A small aircraft carrying oil workers crashed in northern South Sudan, killing 20 people, with only one survivor, officials confirmed.

The plane went down near oil fields in Unity State at around 10:30 AM local time (3:30 PM Hanoi time) on January 29, shortly after takeoff for the capital, Juba.

"The aircraft crashed just 500 meters from the airport. There were 21 people on board, and only one survived. The state government is deeply saddened and will launch an investigation. Most indications suggest it may have been a technical failure," said Gatwech Bipal Both, an official in Unity State.

According to Bipal, the passengers were oil workers employed by Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Sudan’s Nile Petroleum Corporation, headquartered in Juba.

The aircraft was chartered by GPOC, and among the deceased were two Chinese nationals and one Indian national.

South Sudan’s Ongoing Aviation Challenges

South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, continues to struggle with economic and political instability and lacks reliable transportation infrastructure.

Plane crashes in the country are often attributed to overloading and poor weather conditions.

(Sources: AFP, Reuters)