A small aircraft crashed Wednesday in a sparsely populated area of South Sudan resulting in the loss of at least eighteen people according to an official confirmation.
Greater Pioneer Operating Co owned by China chartered the aircraft which had two pilots among its total number of 21 passengers according to Unity State’s Minister of Information Gatwech Bipal. A plane taking off near an oil field crashed as it headed toward Juba International Airport.
The authorities remain unable to find what caused the plane to crash along with performing the complete victim identification process. According to local news reports most people aboard were oil industry workers. 
Since gaining independence in 2011 South Sudan maintains its role as East Africa’s primary oil production nation. Ongoing financial difficulties have not hindered the government’s efforts to enhance oil production activities.
The incident investigation continues alongside rescue operations at the crash site.
