The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has sent condolences to the families of the people killed and the communities affected by a fire from its chartered aircraft that crash-landed at Pieri airstrip in South Sudan’s Jonglei State on Thursday.

The cargo aircraft caught fire after landing while delivering humanitarian aid from Bor. The two-crew members on board suffered injuries and were treated at a local clinic. They were said to be in a stable condition.

The accident caused a fire that spread to the huts adjacent to the airstrip, leading to the death of three people and injuries to others.

The ill-fated plane was carrying water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) cargo, including blankets, buckets, soap, sleeping mats, and collapsible jerry cans. All cargo was destroyed in the fire.  

The cause of the accident remains unclear, but WFP and local aviation authorities were working together to determine what happened. 

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

South Sudan has witnessed several plane crashes in recent years.

In March 2024, a military cargo plane carrying mixed goods to Yida in Ruweng Administrative Area crashed at Yida Airstrip.

In February 2024, a passenger aircraft operated by Africano Company which was involved in transporting returnees who fled the war in Sudan, crash-landed at Malakal Airport. No one was reportedly hurt in the accident.  

In April 2023, a cargo plane carrying passengers crash-landed at Juba International Airport. All the passengers came out unscathed.

On 2 March 2021, a Let L-410 Turbolet of South Sudan Supreme Airlines crashed in Pieri, Uror County on a domestic flight to Yuai Airstrip, South Sudan.

In August 2020, eight people lost their lives, while a single passenger survived with injuries when a cargo plane crashed into a farm in the Kemeru area minutes after it took off from the Juba International Airport. South Sudan lacks proper road connectivity, forcing people to rely on air transport.