Russian Cargo Jet down near Juba

[Cacophonix]

Breaking news of a Russian cargo jet down near Juba airport. Casualties have been reported.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/04/south-sudan-cargo-plane-crashes

Caco

[Cacophonix]

A Russian-built cargo plane with passengers on board crashed after taking off from the airport in South Sudan's capital, killing at least 41 people on the flight and on the ground, airport officials told Al Jazeera.

A crew member and a child on board survived, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told Reuters news agency.

Shortly after taking off from Juba airport on Wednesday the plane came down on the banks of the White Nile river, leaving a tail fin and lumps of fuselage strewn in vegetation close to the water.

Al Jazeera's Hiba Morgan, reporting from Juba, said bad weather was hampering the rescue effort.

"It is raining hard here in Juba, making it difficult to look for more victims. The cargo plane was carrying passengers and it is believed that many of them were not wearing seat belts."

The plane may have had about 20 people on board, including crew and "probably" 10 to 15 passengers, Ateny said, but added: "We need to confirm how many people were on board."

In addition, he said an unknown number of people were killed on the ground as the Antonov plane crashed near where some fishermen were working. "We don't know the number of people that were killed on the ground," he added.

A police officer, who did not give his name because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told Reuters at the scene that at least 41 people died, but said the number could climb. The Reuters witness said he saw 41 bodies at the site.

Earlier, South Sudanese media had said the cargo plane carried five Russian crew and seven passengers. South Sudan Tribune on Twitter also reported two survivors, one of them a child.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/dead-south-sudan-plane-crash-151104081236346.html

The aircraft is reported to be an Antonov (some reports are saying An-12 which is not a jet which is the way some other sources are reporting the aircraft?)

Caco