A Precision Air flight crash-landed in Lake Victoria in Tanzania on Sunday, November 6. Of the 39 passengers and four crew on board, including one infant, 19 fatalities have now been confirmed.
The aircraft, an ATR42-500, was operating flight PW-494 from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba Airport when it encountered heavy rain. At 08h53, it crashed into the lake as it made a turn for the airport.
Rescuers boarded boats to reach the wreckage, which was almost fully submerged, with others wading to the site from the shore to try and pull the aircraft to land with ropes.
The two pilots initially survived the crash and were reportedly in contact with rescue workers before their oxygen supply ran out. Albert Chalamila, Chief Administrator of Tanzania's Kagera region, told Reuters that the pilots were dead when rescuers reached them but that the two flight attendants had survived.
"All Tanzanians join you in mourning these 19 people who have lost their lives," said Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
Investigations into exactly what went wrong are still ongoing.
"Precision Air extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the passengers and crew involved in this tragic accident. The company will strive to provide them with information and whatever assistance they will require in this difficult time,” Precision Air said in a statement issued via Twitter.
Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest private airline, owned in part by Kenya Airways. It has been operating domestic flights since 1993.
