Plane Crash Kills 19: Aircraft Carrying 43 People Plunges Into Lake Victoria In Tanzania

Plane crash kills 19: Aircraft carrying 43 people plunges into Lake Victoria in Tanzania 100 yards short of airport where it was due to land 

A plane crash has killed 19 people after the aircraft, carrying 43 people, plunged into Lake Victoria in Tanzania after it was affected by bad weather- 100 yards short of the airport where it was due to land. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa gave the new death toll, up from the three whose bodies were earlier recovered from the scene. While the two pilots earlier spoke to local officials from the cockpit, according to the BBC, the prime minister has said they may have died since then.Precision Air flight PW 494 was scheduled to fly from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba airport carrying 39 passengers, two pilots and two cabin crew when it plunged into the water at around 8.30am local time (5.30 GMT). Regional commissioner Albert Chalamila earlier said that 26 people were rescued and taken to hospital. It was not clear if any of those who were rescued died at the hospital. Using ropes, emergency workers have managed to get the plane closer to shore and moved some of the plane's body out of the water. Kagera province police commander William Mwampaghale told journalists: 'We have managed to save quite a number of people. 'When the aircraft was about 328 feet midair, it encountered problems and bad weather. It was raining and the plane plunged into the water.' He told journalists that rescue efforts were continuing at the scene. The airport is closed until further notice and authorities will conduct an investigation into the crash.Speaking to the BBC, Abdul Nuri said he was at the airport waiting for the return flight to Dar es Salaam when he saw the crash. He said: 'We were really shocked. People panicked and some started crying and shouting. 'At the arrivals gate people panicked as well - most of them were waiting to welcome their relatives.' Mr Nuri spoke to the fishermen who were the first people to wade into the water to help rescue the passengers. The rescue could begin because a flight attendant opened the rear door while the plane was in the water so fishermen could get into the plane and help people to escape. Footage online posted online earlier in the day showed rescuers, including fishermen, wading through water to bring people to safety. Emergency services using ropes to attempt to lift the aircraft out of the water were assisted by cranes and local residents. Source