Tanzanian plane crash victims mourned

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday consoled the people of Tanzania following a plane crash that killed 19 people over the weekend.

Operated by Precision Air, the passenger plane — which had 39 passengers on board — crashed into Lake Victoria on Sunday while trying to land at a nearby airport in the city of Bukoba.

It was flying from Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam when it encountered a storm, and crashed into the lake, a short distance from Bukoba airport.

In a tweet, President Mnangagwa expressed his condolences.

“My sincere condolences to the people of Tanzania and to President @SuluhuSamia for the tragic loss of life following yesterday’s (Sunday) plane accident. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all the victims. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” he said.

In a statement, Precision Air-Tanzania’s largest privately owned airline-said the plane crash-landed at 8:53 a.m.

“Precision Air extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the passenger(s) and crew involved in this tragic accident,” the airline said.

“The company will strive to provide them with information and whatever assistance they will require in this difficult time.”

Among the survivors were the two pilots of the ATR42-500 aircraft.

First introduced almost 40 years ago, the ATR42 is the smaller of short-haul turboprops made by ATR, a joint-venture of Airbus and Leonardo.—