OREANDA-NEWS. Five people, including two Russians, were killed in the crash of an AN-26 cargo plane in South Sudan. The plane crashed during takeoff at Juba International Airport, Tamazuj radio station reports.

The ship's crew died. The cargo plane, as the Star Tribune adds, belongs to the airline Optimum Aviation Ltd. It was flying to Maban, located in the north of the country. The information was confirmed by the director of the airport of the capital of South Sudan, Juba Kur Kuol.

Al Hadath TV channel notes that according to preliminary information, the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction. An investigation into the circumstances of the emergency has been launched.

Earlier, a plane crash involving a cargo plane occurred at the airport in Papua province. According to available information, one pilot of the plane died in the crash, the co-pilot survived, but was injured. They were unable to make a safe landing due to thick fog.