The aircraft, which was traveling from the commercial capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salam, would have crashed due to heavy rains and strong winds shortly before trying to land in Bukoba.
An airplane from Tanzanian airline Precision Air has crashed into lake victoriain the Kagera region, in the northwest of the country, with 50 people on board with no record of fatalities at the moment.
The aircraft, which was traveling from the Tanzanian commercial capital, Dar es Salam, to Bukoba via Mwanza, would have crashed into the lake shortly before attempting to land at the Bukoba airport, according to the first information from the security forces, due to the heavy rain and strong winds.
Precision Air flight plunges into Lake Victoria when landing at Bukoba Airport in Tanzania, authorities say rescue operations underway
?: Courtesy pic.twitter.com/WJLYfGeVjw
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 6, 2022
Rescue forces, reports the Tanzanian state chain TBC, have already begun maneuvers to get the 49 passengers and three crew members of the device out of the water, a twin turboprop model ATR 42-500.
Nimepokea kwa masikitiko taarifa ya ajali ya ndege ya Shirika la Precision katika Ziwa Victoria, mkoani Kagera. Natuma salamu za pole kwa wote walioathirika na ajali hii. Tuendelee kuwa watulivu wakati huu zoezi la uokoaji likiendelea huku tukimuomba Mwenyezi Mungu atusaidie.
— Samia Suluhu (@SuluhuSamia) November 6, 2022
The president of the country, Samia Suluhu, you are already aware of the incident. “I send my condolences to all those affected by this accident. Let’s remain calm while the rescue operation continues while we ask God to help us,” he has made known on his Twitter account.