At least 19 dead after passenger plane crashes in lake whilst trying to land

AT least 19 people are dead after a passenger place crashed into Lake Victoria as it tried to land at an airport in Africa.

Some 26 passengers on the Precision Air flight in Tanzania were rescued and rushed to hospital.

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Emergency services and local fisherman are said to be trying to rescue the rest of the passengers still trapped inside.

Reports claims the two pilots the crash, through Tanzania’s prime minister believed that may have died since.

Kagera police commander William Mwampaghale said rescue crews has already managed to save “quite a number of people”.

He said: “When the aircraft was about 100 metres (328ft) midair, it encountered problems and bad weather. It was raining and the plane plunged into the water. Everything is under control.”

The country’s state broadcaster said the plane “fell in Lake Victoria this morning due to storms and heavy rains”.

Abdul Nuri was at the lakeside airport in Bukoba when the plane carrying 43 passengers plunged into the water.

“We were really shocked. People panicked and some started crying and shouting,” he told the BBC.

“At the arrivals gate people panicked as well – most of them were waiting to welcome their relatives.”

Fisherman helping at the scene told of arriving to rescue people after a flight attendant opened the read door while the plane was lodged in the water.

The crash is said to have been the cause of poor weather.

Emergency crews used ropes to pull the ATR-42 closer to the shore.

The plane had been completely submerged with just the brown and green tail fin visible from above the water.

Bukoba airport’s runway lies right beside the shore of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed her condolences to those affected and called for calm as the rescue operation continues.

The plane was flying from the Das Es Salaam to Bukoba via Mwanza.

Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest private airline and is partially owned by Kenya Airways.