Juba, South Sudan: Several people were killed Wednesday when a plane crash-landed shortly after taking off from South Sudan’s capital Juba, an AFP reporter said.

‘Cargo plane heading to Paloch in Upper Nile State crashed just 800 metres from Juba International Airport runway,’ reported Radio Miraya, a UN-backed station.

The radio said up to 40 people may have been killed. An AFP reporter at the scene said he could see people trying to search for survivors and carry ‘several’ bodies out of the wreckage of the plane.

A cargo air plane crash landed Wednesday shortly after taking off from South Sudan’s capital Juba, a UN-backed radio station said.

‘Cargo plane heading to Paloch in Upper Nile State crashed just 800 meters from Juba International Airport runway,’ Radio Miraya reported.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties, and officials were not available for comment.

The plane reportedly crashed on the banks of the White Nile river, which passes by close to Juba airport.