AT LEAST 1 people were killed in the plane crash in Tanzania in which Precision Air's aircraft crash-landed into Lake Victoria as it attempted to land at Bukoba Airport, said Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Sunday.
The aircraft, which had departed from the capital, Dar es Salaam, "fell in Lake Victoria this morning due to storm and heavy rains", TBC reported.
Meanwhile, Precision Air, which is Tanzania's largest private airline, released a brief statement confirming the accident. "The rescue team has been dispatched to the scene and more information will be released in 2 hours' time," the airline said.
Notice to the public pic.twitter.com/QvdMGeMynq
— Precision Air (@PrecisionAirTz) November 6, 2022
Video footage and images that circulated on social media showed the plane almost fully submerged, with only its green and brown-coloured tail visible above the water line.
Watch Video:
A #PrecisionAir plane #crashed into #Lake #Victoria in #Tanzania The plane was on a local flight from #Dar es #Salaam to #Bukoba. Previously, there were 49 people on board - 24 of them have already been rescued. pic.twitter.com/gMfo77VNnR
— ATLASIAN (@ATLASIANMOR) November 6, 2022
Rescue boats were deployed and emergency workers were continuing to rescue other passengers trapped in the plane, TBC added.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan called for calm as the rescue operation continued. "I have received with sadness the news of the accident involving Precision Air's plane," she tweeted.
"Let's be calm at this moment when rescuers are continuing with the rescue mission while praying to God to help us." Let us tell you that, Bukoba Airport lies on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake.