Latest news with #GPOC
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- Express Tribune
20 killed in South Sudan plane crash
Only one person has survived a plane crash in South Sudan, which killed 20 oil workers who were on board, the government said. The plane, which was heading to the capital, Juba, crashed three minutes after take-near the oil fields in Unity State on Wednesday morning, said Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. Among the victims are five foreign nationals: two Chinese, one Indian, and two Ugandan crew members. The 15 other victims were all South Sudanese. The cause of the crash has not been determined, but authorities said they are investigating. "Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those on board during this incredibly difficult time," said Chol. The oil workers, who were all men, worked for the Greater Pioneer Company (GPOC) and the plane was operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company. GPOC is a joint venture that includes state-owned oil companies from India, China, Malaysia, and South Sudan. It was meant to be a routine exploration mission. South Sudan's aviation infrastructure is not well developed and the country has a poor safety record. Air accidents are common, and frequently blamed on overloading of the aircraft or the weather conditions. In 2021, five people were killed after a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) crashed near Juba.
Russia Today
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Sole survivor in plane crash in African state
At least 20 people, including Chinese and Indian nationals, have been killed in a plane crash in South Sudan's Unity State, authorities in the East African country reported on Wednesday. The region's information minister, Gatwech Bipal, said the passengers on the small aircraft were oil workers of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation and the Sudanese state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation. He said it had departed for the African nation's capital, Juba, before it went down near the oil fields in Rubkona County shortly after takeoff. 'We are saddened to report this unfortunate incident involving a Light Air Service plane that tragically crashed just three minutes after takeoff from the Unity oil fields en route to Juba,' South Sudanese Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol also told reporters. He said 16 South Sudanese, two Chinese nationals, an Indian, and two Ugandan crew members were on the plane. The only survivor, a South Sudanese engineer, has been evacuated to Bentiu State Hospital, according to Chuol. READ MORE: Russian skating stars on board crashed American plane – media Air accidents occur frequently in Africa's newest country, which has remained conflict-torn since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Last August, a cargo plane reportedly caught fire in the South Sudanese state of Jonglei, injuring two crew members. At least five people were killed in 2021 when a cargo flight carrying fuel for the UN's World Food Program crashed near Juba. A year earlier, an aircraft belonging to the South West Aviation company crashed after taking off from Juba International Airport, killing three South Sudanese and five Russians. In September 2018, at least 20 people, including the Anglican Bishop of Yirol, Simon Adut Yuang, died after an L-410 Turbolet of the same airline crashed into Lake Yirol, reportedly due to bad weather. In 2015, around 36 people were killed in a Soviet-made Antonov plane when it crashed along the banks of the Nile River, according to the landlocked nation's authorities. The incidents prompted South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit to ban aircraft older than 20 years from operating passenger flights in April 2019. In a statement late on Wednesday, President Kiir said he had ordered the Ministry of Transport and relevant authorities to conduct a 'thorough and swift investigation' to determine the cause of the latest crash. He called the incident 'heartbreaking,' adding that engineers and technical staff were among the victims. 'This tragedy deeply affects not only the families of the deceased but also the communities, our nation, and the entire oil industry,' the leader stated.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
One survivor as 20 killed in South Sudan plane crash
Only one person has survived a plane crash in South Sudan, which killed 20 oil workers who were on board, the government said. The plane, which was heading to the capital, Juba, crashed three minutes after take-near the oil fields in Unity State on Wednesday morning, said Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. Among the victims are five foreign nationals: two Chinese, one Indian, and two Ugandan crew members. The 15 other victims were all South Sudanese. The cause of the crash has not been determined, but authorities said they are investigating. "Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those on board during this incredibly difficult time," said Chol. The oil workers, who were all men, worked for the Greater Pioneer Company (GPOC) and the plane was operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company. GPOC is a joint venture that includes state-owned oil companies from India, China, Malaysia, and South Sudan. It was meant to be a routine exploration mission. South Sudan's aviation infrastructure is not well developed and the country has a poor safety record. Air accidents are common, and frequently blamed on overloading of the aircraft or the weather conditions. In 2021, five people were killed after a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) crashed near Juba. South Sudan's 7ft 2in refugee basketballer 'Dying of thirst' as climate-driven floods mix with oil The South Sudanese pilgrims who walked nine days to see the Pope Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
ARN News Center
29-01-2025
- Business
- ARN News Center
Plane crashes in South Sudan, killing 20
A small aircraft carrying oil workers in South Sudan's Unity State crashed on Wednesday, killing 20 people, an official said. The plane crashed at the Unity oilfield airport on Wednesday morning as it was heading to the capital Juba, Gatwech Bipal, Unity State's information minister, said. Bipal said the passengers were oil workers of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) a consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation and state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation. He said among the dead were two Chinese nationals and one Indian. Bipal gave no more details on the circumstances that led to the crash. Media reports had initially put the death toll at 18 but Bipal told Reuters two survivors had later died. One person survived. Several air crashes have occurred in war-torn South Sudan in recent years. In September 2018, at least 19 people died when a small aircraft carrying passengers from the capital Juba to the city of Yirol crashed. In 2015, dozens of people were killed when a Russian-built cargo plane with passengers on board crashed after taking off from the airport in the capital Juba.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
One survivor as 20 killed in South Sudan plane crash
Only one person has survived a plane crash in South Sudan, which killed 20 oil workers who were on board, the government said. The plane, which was heading to the capital, Juba, crashed three minutes after take-near the oil fields in Unity State on Wednesday morning, said Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. Among the victims are five foreign nationals: two Chinese, one Indian, and two Ugandan crew members. The 15 other victims were all South Sudanese. The cause of the crash has not been determined, but authorities said they are investigating. "Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those on board during this incredibly difficult time," said Chol. The oil workers, who were all men, worked for the Greater Pioneer Company (GPOC) and the plane was operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company. GPOC is a joint venture that includes state-owned oil companies from India, China, Malaysia, and South Sudan. It was meant to be a routine exploration mission. South Sudan's aviation infrastructure is not well developed and the country has a poor safety record. Air accidents are common, and frequently blamed on overloading of the aircraft or the weather conditions. In 2021, five people were killed after a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) crashed near Juba. South Sudan's 7ft 2in refugee basketballer 'Dying of thirst' as climate-driven floods mix with oil The South Sudanese pilgrims who walked nine days to see the Pope Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
