At least three persons were killed when a Tanzanian passenger plane crashed into Lake Victoria while attempting to land in the lakeside town of Bukoba.
The Precision Air flight was carrying 43 passengers, and 26 have been rescued and transported to hospitals, according to an official.
The two pilots survived the collision but are still locked in the cockpit and have been communicating with local authorities.
On the scene are emergency workers and local fishermen attempting to rescue anyone still inside the aircraft.
Using ropes, rescue crews pulled the ATR-42 aircraft closer to the shore, and some of its body is now visible above the water.
Upon impact, the plane was almost entirely submerged, with only the brown and green tail fin visible.
One end of the runway at Bukoba airport is adjacent to Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa.
Albert Chalamila, a senior regional official, stated that three dead had been recovered so far following the disaster, which has been attributed to terrible weather.
As the rescue operation continues, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has conveyed her condolences to those harmed and urged for calm.
The plane was flying from Das es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, to Bukoba through Mwanza.
Precision Air is the largest private airline in Tanzania and is owned in part by Kenya Airways. It was established in 1993 and offers domestic and regional services.
