Passengers rescued after commercial aircraft crashes into Lake Victoria in Tanzania
By Idris Mukhtar and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN
The Precision Air passenger aircraft is seen on the shores of Lake Victoria in Bukoba, in western Tanzania on Sunday.
CNN —
Several passengers on board a commercial flight operated by Precision Air which crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania on Sunday have been rescued, according to officials.
Boats with emergency response personnel were deployed to the crash site at Africa’s largest lake near Bukoba airport. It was not immediately clear how many passengers were on board or if there were any fatalities in the crash.
Speaking at the site, Kagera provincial police commander William Mwampaghale said “everything is currently under control.”
“Rescue operations are underway, we have so far rescued several people and eventually we will make sure we have rescued everyone and removed the airplane out of the water,” he said.
“Those who have been rescued have been taken to our referral hospital.”
Video circulating on social media taken by onlookers on the shores of Lake Victoria showed the aircraft submerged in the water with emergency responders coordinating rescue efforts from nearby boats.
Social media video showed the plane almost fully submerged with only the green and yellow livery on the aircraft's tail visible above the waterline.
Tanzania’s President took to social media to call for calm while rescuers worked at the site of a downed plane.
“I have received with sadness the information of the crash of the Precision Air flight at Lake Victoria, in the Kagera region,” President Samoa Suluhu wrote on Twitter Sunday.
“I send my condolences to all those affected by this incident. Let’s continue to be calm as the rescue operation continues and we pray to God to help us.”
Precision Air is a Tanzanian airline based out of Dar es Salaam.
This is a developing story – more to come
Source: CNN