A UN World Food Programme (WFP) chartered cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba Airport on Saturday morning, killing seven people who were aboard.

Madut Biar Yel, the National Minister of Transport, told reporters that the cargo plane that belongs to South West Aviation crashed in the Referendum area of Juba a few minutes after it took off from Juba International Airport.

Mr. Yel, who visited the scene of the crash, said the plane was carrying goods and money headed from Juba to Wau and Aweil towns.

The minister disclosed that the cargo plane, an Antonov AN-26, was carrying three crew members and five passengers on board.

“The cargo plane took off from the airport at 7:48 am. The aircraft hired by WFP crashed with eight people on board, but there is one survivor,” he explained.

The government official expressed sympathy to the families of the victims, saying the government will carry out investigations into the incident.

No cause of the crash has been announced.

Air crashes are not unusual in Africa, where many airlines fly old or outdated aircraft and infrastructure is often not properly maintained.