Russian-Made Plane Crashes in South Sudan, Dozens Dead

A Russian-made cargo plane crashed in South Sudan Wednesday, with as many as 40 people possibly killed.

The aircraft crashed just minutes after takeoff at the Juba International Airport, according to South Sudan's Radio Miraya.

“A huge flame of fire was seen emerging from the crash site,” the news agency reported.

A journalist from the radio station said they saw around 40 bodies at the crash site, including children.

Initial images of the plane crash site in #Juba #SouthSudan #JubaAirCrash @unmissmedia @TalkofJuba pic.twitter.com/Q6Y7FhUp12

— Radio Miraya (@RadioMiraya) November 4, 2015

Other local media outlets have reported a group of Russian crew may have been among the dead.

A government spokesperson put the dead at less than 20, while Reuters has reported local police as stating they estimated 41 people had been killed.

The Russian-made Antonov cargo plane was bound for the northern state of Upper Nile, though few other details were immediately available.

The cause of the crash was unclear, with South Sudanese authorities stating an investigation was underway. ​