Rabat – An aircraft belonging to Tanzania’s Precision Air carrying 43 people crashed in Lake Victoria on Sunday, killing at least three people, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation reported.
While an investigation is yet to be conducted, the broadcaster attributed the crash to bad weather, as the flight operated amid storms and heavy rains.
“When the aircraft was about 100 metres midair, it encountered problems and bad weather,” police commander William Mwampaghale told reporters. “It was raining and the plane plunged into the water. Everything is under control.”
The flight was attempting to reach a nearby airport in Bukoba, the airline said in a statement, assuring that it has sent a team of trained personnel and specialists to the site to conduct an investigation.
“The rescue is ongoing and we can confirm 26 passengers have been rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical care,” the airline said on Twitter.
“Let’s be calm at this moment when rescuers are continuing with the rescue mission while praying to God to help us,” Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan tweeted.
Precision Air is Tanzania’s biggest privately-owned airline. The company announced that it has set up information centers in the country’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, for families of those who were affected.
