A plane crash in South Sudan's Unity State has claimed 18 lives, with 21 passengers and crew on board. The aircraft, departing from an oilfield, crashed under unclear circumstances, marking the latest in a series of deadly air incidents in the war-torn nation.

A plane crash in South Sudan's Unity State on Wednesday has resulted in the deaths of 18 people, according to reports from the United Nations' Radio Miraya. The aircraft, which was carrying 21 passengers and crew, had taken off from an oilfield in the northern part of the state before crashing.

The exact cause of the crash has not been disclosed, and South Sudan’s Information Minister Michael Makuei did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Radio Miraya, which operates under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), reported the incident but provided no additional details.

South Sudan, which has been affected by ongoing conflict, has seen several air crashes in recent years. In September 2018, a similar incident occurred when a small aircraft crashed while traveling from the capital Juba to Yirol, killing at least 19 people. Another major crash occurred in 2015 when a Russian-built cargo plane, carrying passengers, crashed shortly after taking off from Juba, resulting in numerous fatalities.

The latest crash highlights the continuing challenges of air travel safety in the war-torn country. Further investigations are expected to determine the cause of the crash.

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