Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has confirmed that a total of 19 people were killed when a Precision Air plane crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania while attempting to land at an airport during bad weather.
Majaliwa who rushed to the Northwestern City of Bukoba after the crash asked Tanzanians to join in mourning the death of 19 people who have lost their lives.
Regional commissioner Albert Chalamila said 43 people who included 39 passengers, two pilots and two cabin crew were on board of the ill fated plane and 26 people have been rescued so far.
Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest privately-owned airline and departed from the commercial capital, Dar-es-Salaam, and fell in the Lake Victoria this morning due to storm and heavy rains in Bukoba.
Kagera Province Police Commander William Mwampaghale told journalists that when the aircraft was about 100 metres midair, it encountered problems and bad weather as it was raining and the plunged into the water.
Bukoba Airport is on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and rescue boats were deployed and emergency workers continued to rescue other passengers trapped on the plane.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan called for calm during the rescue operation saying its sad news of the accident involving Precision Air’s plane.
