At least three people have so far been confirmed dead, 26 rescued while search and rescue efforts for the missing 14 others continues ten hours after the tragic plunge of Precision Air plane, registration number ATR 42-500 into Lake Victoria near Bukoba Airport today morning.
According to Tanzanian authorities, rescue efforts of those missing are ongoing amid fears the death toll could sharply rise.
Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest privately owned airline and is partly owned by the Kenya Airways which is experiencing operational paralysis occasioned by pilots’ strike.
The Bukoba bound passenger plane enroute from Dar es Salaam had 39 passengers, two crew members and two pilots on board totaling to 43 people when the fateful incident happened.
The two pilots survived the crash but remain trapped inside the cockpit and have been speaking to local officials.
The accident was blamed to bad weather occasioned by heavy downpour and storms.
“I have received with sadness the news of the accident involving Precision Air’s plane. 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 said.
Bukoba is on the western edge of Lake Victoria, which is on the border with Uganda and Kenya.
Viral video footage shows rescue workers and local fishermen in the lake rescuing survivors and using lopes to pull out the aircraft.
The passenger plane was almost completely submerged with only the brown and green tail fin above the water, surrounded by rescue workers and fishing boats.
Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest private airline and was founded in 1993 and operates domestic and regional flights.