Five Armenian Crew Members Killed in Plane Crash in South Sudan

An Antonov-12 cargo plane crashed on Wednesday not long after taking off from the airport in Juba, South Sudan's capital. According to preliminary reports, the plane was carrying twelve passengers and a crew of six which was comprised of five Armenian and one Russian citizens. South Sudan's presidential spokesperson told reporters that three South Sudanese nationals, including a child, survived the crash. Meanwhile, the death toll has reached 41 since the plane crashed on local fish farmers.

The plane, as stated by officials, belonged to local Allied Services Ltd airline; however, according to Russian media reports, in 2014 the aircraft was purchased and has since been operated by Asia Airways, a Tajik company. 

Armenia's General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA) confirmed in a statement that the plane belonged to Asia Airways. “According to preliminary data, there were five Armenian nationals in the crew. The Department has contacted the management of Tajikstan's civil aviation in order to establish the nationality of the crew members who, in any case, were not issued a flight crew licence by the GDCA.”