Two Ugandan “Eagle Air” Pilots Die in a Plane Crash in South Sudan
Uganda has lost 2 pilots and 16 people who were aboard Eagle Air’s Beech Craft 1900D while departing an oil field in Unity State in South Sudan. The two pilots included Captain Peter Amua from Amolatar District and the Co- pilot Emmanuel Wiri Drake.
Gatwech Biphal, Unity State Information Minister noted that 21 people were on board and among those, 18 people were confirmed dead with only 3 people surviving including one Indian and 2 South Sudanese. Mr. Gatwech Biphal confirmed that initial investigations into the accident point to mechanical errors but further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Gatwech went ahead to express his regret of the incident and promised that thorough investigations would be carried out to establish the exact cause of the accident. Mr. Gatwech condoled with the family of all the deceased and regretted the incident.
Commenting on the incident, the President of Uganda Professional Pilots’ Association Captain Aziz Sentamu noted that the Ugandan Aviation community is saddened by the loss of two highly experienced pilots. Captain Peter Amua worked with several aviation companies in Uganda, Kenya, Somalia and Nigeria. Captain Amua was Uganda Civil Aviation Authority’s designated flight examiner, chief flight instructor at East African Civil Aviation Academy in Soroti and also acted as chief pilot for Bar Aviation. Captain Amua taught many pilots in Uganda and beyond and was due to retire. 1st officer Emmanuel Wiri Drake was a senior 1st officer on the LTE 401 and Beechcraft 1900D. The two distinguished pilots were known for professionalism, and adherence to SOPs in the aviation field.
The loss of the two distinguished pilots has left a big dent in Uganda’s aviation industry and will both be greatly missed.
