Plane crash near Juba leaves 14 dead, weather likely to blame

A small plane went down Monday just outside South Sudan’s capital, Juba, killing everyone on board—13 passengers and the pilot. Early reports point to bad weather as the likely cause, since the flight was coming in from Yei through thick, low clouds that would have made flying tricky. Among the victims were two passengers from Kenya, with the rest being South Sudanese locals.Emergency crews reached the wreckage about 20 kilometers from the city. Videos posted online show a smoldering plane surrounded by rough terrain, with hills and fog adding to the grim scene. The crash happened fast, leaving no survivors and raising questions about how often weather warnings are ignored in the region. This isn’t the first time small planes in South Sudan have struggled with visibility issues. The country’s rough landscape and unpredictable weather make flying risky, especially for pilots without modern safety gear. While official reports haven’t confirmed the exact cause yet, the pattern suggests pilots might be taking unnecessary risks when storms roll in.