DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA): At least 19 people including a flight attendant died after a passenger plane plunged into Lake Victoria in Tanzania on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa confirmed the death toll shortly after arriving at the crash scene.<\/p>\n
Authorities said at least 26 people have been rescued.<\/p>\n
Albert Chalamila, a regional commissioner, said the rescue team has succeeded in pulling the plane wreckage from shallow water.<\/p>\n
There were 45 people on board the Precision Air plane, said Chalamila.<\/p>\n
In its initial statement, Precision Air said flight number PW494 heading from the commercial hub Dar es Salaam to Bukoba “was involved in an accident as it was approaching Bukoba Airport.”<\/p>\n
It was an ATR 42-500 aircraft, the airline said in a separate statement, adding that an investigation team with Precision Air technical staff was headed to the site.<\/p>\n
The plane crashed into Lake Victoria around 10.50 am local time (0750GMT).<\/p>\n
Bukoba Airport is located on the lake’s shore, and the crash site is just a few hundred meters from the runway, according to local officials.<\/p>\n
Videos circulating on social media show the plane’s submerged yellow and green fuselage surrounded by rescue boats.<\/p>\n
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is currently on a visit to China, called for “calm as rescue operations continue.”<\/p>\n
“I have received with profound shock the news of the accident involving a passenger plane belonging to Precision Air in Lake Victoria. I send my most sincere sympathy to the victims,” \u200b\u200bshe said on Twitter.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement expressing “deep sorrow” over the deaths.<\/p>\n
“We have learned with deep sorrow that 19 people lost their lives in the United Republic of Tanzania in a plane crash on a flight from Dar es-Salaam to Bukoba,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
“We share the sorrow of the friendly Tanzanian state and people, extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” it added.<\/p>\n
By Kizito<\/p>\n
Souce : muslimnews<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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