Kagera Regional Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Issessanda Kaniki confirmed the death toll, which comes after a rescue mission that scoured for hours saving 26 people out of 43.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan sent a comfort message to the families and called for calm. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the area to beef up the rescue mission.
Precision Air’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Patrick Mwanri described the accident as a “tragedy” announcing two information centers in Dar es Salaam and Bukoba.
According to official details, the passenger plane PW494 had 39 passengers and an infant. The plane departed Dar es Salaam and was scheduled to land at Bukoba Airport enroute to Mwanza before returning to Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
Kagera Regional Commissioner Abert Chalamila said rescue missions were ongoing with supporting equipment from the Geita region and the Kagera Sugar Factory.
Samia sends message of comfort over Precision air accident
President Samia Suluhu Hassan sent a message of comfort to families of 43 people including crew members of Precision air after the passenger plane plugged into Lake Victoria 100 meters before landing at Bukoba airport.
In the message released on Sunday, the President said she was saddened by the accident.
The plane was traveling from Dar es Salaam via Mwanza.
Precision Air’s flight PW 494,crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania while attempting to land at Bukoba Airport in Kagera Region.
“I have received with regret the information on the plane crash of Precision Corporation into Lake Victoria, Kagera region… Let us continue to be calm while the rescue operations continue and ask God to help us,” she tweeted.