Fire response teams from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) swiftly removed a cargo flight that crash-landed at Wau Airport from the runway, making it safe for flights to resume their operations normally.

The cargo aircraft with five crew members had departed from Kuajok, a town north of Wau, and crash-landed at 3:55pm. UNMISS mobilised its fire response teams and managed to remove the plane from the middle of runway in less than two hours.

According to UNMISS Movement Control officers, the plane encountered technical difficulties with the locking of the left rear wheels and landed on its tail. All the crew members managed to evacuate the plane without any injury.

John Akot, Wau Airport Director with South Sudan Civil Aviation said the cargo plane had been contracted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to transport medicine from Juba to Kuajok, Wau and Rumbek. He commended the quick response by UNMISS in clearing the runway.

It was the last flight on the day to land at the Wau Airport, which is the second biggest airport in South Sudan after Juba International Airport.

The aircraft incurred slight damage to the wheels, tail and left wing.