What happened
Following its departure from Runway 13 at Juba Airport, the Antonov aircraft experienced significant difficulties maintaining altitude. Approximately 800 meters into the flight, the plane struck a hill and came to rest on the banks of the White Nile. The accident occurred during a period of marginal weather characterized by rain showers. The crash resulted in 41 fatalities, which included the entire six-person crew, while two passengers sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations by South Sudan authorities indicated that the aircraft was unable to achieve sufficient climb performance due to being overloaded. Prior to the flight, the captain had notified air traffic control that the plane was carrying 12 passengers. Furthermore, reports from Antonov indicated that the aircraft, operated by Tajik Asia Airways, was not in an airworthy condition because the operator had failed to adhere to established regulatory procedures.