By James Innocent
Authorities in Yei River County have issued an official condolence message following a tragic plane crash in the Luri area that claimed the lives of 14 people traveling from Yei River County to Juba.
According to county authorities, the aircraft, operated by Citylink Aviation, crashed early Tuesday morning while en route to Juba. Initial reports indicate that all 14 people on board, including the pilot, died in the accident with no survivors.
Among the deceased were men and women traveling to Juba for official engagements, including Yei River County’s public prosecutor, Charles. Authorities also confirmed that one of the passengers was a Kenyan national.
Officials said the bodies of the victims have been transported to Juba as authorities coordinate with families and relevant institutions.
In response to the tragedy, the commissioner of Yei River County, Samuel Henry Malimbo, has declared Saturday, 9th May 2026, as an official public day of mourning in honour of the victims.
The mourning ceremony will be held for two hours, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM South Sudan local time, at Freedom Square.
The event is expected to bring together bereaved families, friends, relatives, community leaders, government officials, religious leaders, and members of the public to pay their final respects and stand in solidarity with the grieving families.
Speaking during the press conference, Yei River County Security Coordinator Juma David Augustine called on families and the wider community to remain strong and united during the difficult period.
“It is a painful loss for the county and the nation. We encourage the families to remain strong as investigations continue to establish the cause of the crash,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nancy Paska, the Yei operations manager for Citylink Aviation, described the incident as deeply heartbreaking for the country and its people.
Paska said the aircraft had undergone normal operational checks before departure, and no technical issues were reported before takeoff.
“I personally checked and confirmed that everything was normal before the plane departed from Yei,” she said. “A few minutes later, I received information from Juba that the aircraft had not arrived at the airport as expected. I tried calling some of the passengers, but their phones were unreachable.”
She said later reports confirmed that the aircraft had crashed in Luri, killing all those on board.
Paska added that the incident came as a shock to the company, noting that it is the first fatal crash involving Citylink Aviation since the company began operating flights in Yei.
In his condolence message, Commissioner Malimbo described the incident as a devastating tragedy that has shaken the people of Yei River County and Central Equatoria State.
“On behalf of the government and people of Yei River County, I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time,” the commissioner said.
Authorities said the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority is expected to conduct investigations to establish the cause of the crash.
The press conference was attended by county officials, security representatives, the executive director, the paramount chief, the chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce, the director of planning, and the Yei manager of Citylink Aviation.
The tragedy has left the people of Yei River County and the wider community in mourning as families prepare to lay their loved ones to rest and await the outcome of official investigations.