DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA: Due to severe weather, a domestic passenger plane crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania early on Sunday before landing in the north-western city of Bukoba, according to authorities, who also noted that rescue attempts were in progress.

“William Mwampaghale, regional police commander, told reporters at Bukoba airport that “there was an accident involving a Precision Airplane… which crashed into water around 100 meters from the airport.”

No information on the number of passengers on board was immediately available, but local media reports indicated that the flight from Tanzania’s commercial metropolis of Dar es Salaam to the lakeside city carried about 49 people.

Mwampaghale continued, “The situation is under control as security teams are working hard to rescue victims”.

The largest private airline in Tanzania, Precision Air, issued a brief statement acknowledging the mishap.

The airline stated, “The rescue team has been sent to the scene and more information will be made available in two hours.”

Five years ago, a plane belonging to a safari company crashed in northern Tanzania, killing 11 people.