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“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those on board during this incredibly difficult time,” said Chol.
The oil workers, who were all men, worked for the Greater Pioneer Company (GPOC) and the plane was operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company.
GPOC is a joint venture that includes state-owned oil companies from India, China, Malaysia, and South Sudan.
It was meant to be a routine exploration mission.
South Sudan’s aviation infrastructure is not well developed and the country has a poor safety record.
Air accidents are common, and frequently blamed on overloading of the aircraft or the weather conditions.
In 2021, five people were killed after a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) crashed near Juba.
