Created Tuesday, Nov 2nd 2021 10:23Z, last updated Tuesday, Nov 9th 2021 11:55Z
An Euro Airlines Antonov AN-26, registration TR-NGT performing a flight from Juba to Maban (South Sudan) with 5 crew and 28 drums of Diesel, was climbing out of Juba's runway 13 at about 10:33L (08:33Z) when the crew declared emergency about 3 minutes after departure. The aircraft went down at 10:37L (08:37Z) near the runway 13 end across river White Nile, about 1.9nm from the runway 13 end/runway 31 threshold at position N4.8624 E31.6409 leaving a wreckage trail of about 75 meters/250 feet length. Arriving emergency services did not find any survivors.
Juba's Airport director confirmed a cargo AN-26 aircraft belonging to Optimum Aviation Ltd has crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba.
South Sudan's Red Cross reported five bodies have been recovered from the crash site, all bodies have been burned beyond recognition.
A ground observer reported the aircraft departed runway 13 at 10:33L and crashed at 10:37L. When the aircraft taxied for departure nothing unusual was visible. However, following the crash fuel was observed at the left side of holding point B and down the runway until about abeam taxiway D consistent with a departing aircraft. The ground observer could not positively establish whether the fuel observed on holding point and runway came from the accident aircraft.
On Nov 9th 2021 The Aviation Herald received an aerial photo showing the crash site at the eastern bank of the main stream of the White Nile rather than on the eastern bank of the side stream of White Nile forming the Gondokoro Island together with the main stream of the White Nile, that was initially identified by authorities.
According to the website of Optimum Aviation Ltd (not to be confused with the Canadian Optimum Aviation) their headquarter is located in Juba, South Sudan. The operator according to their own words "has four major aircraft which are specialized in cargo transportation across the states of South Sudan."
In the meantime (on Nov 3rd 2021) Optimum Aviation Ltd reported it was not their aircraft, that crashed. They understood the aircraft TR-NGT was operated by Euro Airlines. A cargo manifest identfying the aircraft TR-NGT being operated by Euro Airlines, based in South Sudan, and carrying 28 drums of Diesel to Maban on Nov 2nd 2021, seen by this editor, supports the claim.
On Nov 7th 2021 South Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority issued an order immediately revoking the AOPs (Air Operator Permits) for Antonov AN-24, AN-26, AN-28, AN-30, Hawker HS-748 and Let-410UVP aircraft instructing operators to return their aircraft to the state of registry within 7 days. Excepted will be Antonov Aircraft operated by the United Nations as well as two AN-26 used by South Sudan's Military provided they change to military registrations (if they continue under civil registration, they'll also be banned from operation in South Sudan), see the order below.
Editorial note: So far no trace of this airline "Euro Airlines" based in South Sudan could be found although there are multiple "Euro Airlines" around the globe not to be confused, like one in Spain, another one in Germany, another one in Gambia etc. So far it was also not possible to identify the MSN of the accident aircraft, TR-NGT appears to be a fake registration, however, the CAA Gabon/Aircraft Registry did not respond to inquiries by The Aviation Herald, too. Euro Airlines, although an e-mail address is readable on the cargo manifest, did not respond to an inquiry to that address, too. South Sudan's CAA also did not respond to our inquiry.
The crash site seen from Juba's apron:
The crash site:
Aerial overview of the crash site (see lower right side for the wreckage trail):
Order by South Sudan's CAA to ban AN-24, AN-26, AN-28, AN-30, H748, L410 (Graphics: SSCAA):
Detail Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):
Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):
