A total of 19 passengers are confirmed to have perished following the tragic Precision Air plane crash in Lake Victoria that occurred at Bukoba Airport in Tanzania on Sunday morning.

This is according to Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who issued the update after the commercial airline crash landed into the lake as it approached the airport at Bukoba.

“All Tanzanians are with you in mourning the 19 people who lost lives during this accident,” Majaliwa said on Sunday.

Rescue efforts involving government officials and fishermen saw 26 people rescued out of the 43 who were on board flight PW 494 from Dar es Salaam, including 39 passengers.

The plane belonging to Precision Air, which is the largest private airline in Tanzania, is reported to have plunged into the water owing to poor weather.

Read More

  1. Watu Simu hits 1 millionth customer milestone in Kenya’s mobile finance market
  2. Kenya’s African exports hit Sh248.7 billion, climbing 26 per cent on robust trade ties
  3. Jubilee Insurance launches campaign to boost financial literacy in East Africa


"An investigation team consisting of Precision Air technical staff and TAA (Tanzania Airports Authority) has also departed to join the rescue team on the ground," the carrier said in a statement issued on Sunday.

It went on: “Precision Air sincerely understands the anxiety for confirmed information and will therefore do its best to issue more details. The next update will be issued as soon as we receive more information from the accident scene."

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan already sent her condolence message to the families affected by the tragic accident that occurred on Sunday morning.

“Let's continue to be calm while the rescue operation continues as we pray to God to help us,” Suluhu said on her Twitter page.

The listed company, which was established in 1993, is 58 per cent owned by Tanzanians, 41 per cent by Kenya Airways and 1 per cent by other nationals.