Tanzania: 26 people rescued from the plane crash in Lake Victoria

The search for survivors in Lake Victoria is in full swing Tanzaniaafter the crash of a passenger plane with 43 people on board.

“There was an accident with a (airline) Precision Air plane which (…) crashed into the water about 100 meters from the airport”regional police commander William Mwabagale told reporters at Bukoba airport.

Regional Commissioner Albert Salamila explained how 43 people, including 39 passengers, the two pilots and two crew members, were on board the flight that had departed from Dar es Salaamthe economic capital of the country, bound for Bukoba, a city on the shore of the lake, which is the largest in Africa and where the Nile originates.

“As we speak, we have managed to save 26 people, who have been taken to hospital”Salamila added, emphasizing how “the rescue operation continues.”

According to him, the plane was an ATR 42. This model is manufactured by the Franco-Italian company ATR.

Videos released by local media show much of the plane being underwater, while rescuers try to retrieve survivors. Crews are attempting to pull the plane out of the water using cables and cranes.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appealed for calm as the rescue operation continues.

“I was saddened to learn of the Precision Air plane crash”he tweeted. “Let us remain calm as rescuers continue the rescue mission and pray to God to help us”.

Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest private airline.

Its fleet consists of nine planes, of which 3 ATR 42-500, 1 ATR 42-600 and 5 ATR 72-500. It is not known which of the ATR 42s crashed.