Tragedy has struck the aviation world this week, with 14 people confirmed dead in a horrific fiery plane crash, just as completely bizarre scenes unfolded at a separate crash site where locals looted millions of dollars from the burning wreckage.
In the first devastating incident, a small Cessna 208 Caravan passenger plane plunged to the ground and burst into flames shortly after taking off from Yei, headed for South Sudan’s capital, Juba.
Air traffic control lost all communication with the CityLink Aviation flight just 30 minutes into the short 128km journey. The wreckage was eventually located 19km southwest of Juba, but tragically, there were no survivors. The pilot and all 13 passengers—12 from South Sudan and two from Kenya—lost their lives in the inferno.
Authorities have dispatched a team to investigate the crash site, but early reports suggest the pilot may have flown directly into adverse weather conditions, battling incredibly low visibility before the fatal nosedive.
Millions looted from burning wreckage
But in a completely chaotic twist to a tragic week, a separate plane crash in South America has sparked a frantic, real-life scramble for cold, hard cash.
A plane transporting a jaw-dropping $5 million USD ($7 million AUD) and millions in Brazilian reais for the security company Prosegur went down in Minga Guazu, Paraguay. The horrific crash tragically killed the pilot and left several others severely injured.
However, while the aircraft wreckage was literally still burning, absolute madness ensued. Locals reportedly rushed the crash site, frantically stuffing their pockets with bundles of scattered banknotes instead of waiting for authorities.
Police and investigators are now trying to track down the missing loot, estimating that a staggering $1.3 million USD and 4 million Brazilian reais simply vanished into the pockets of the crowd during the chaotic aftermath.
