The World Food Programme (WFP) has distanced itself from a cargo plane that crashed in Juba over the weekend, killing eight people who were on board.

On Saturday morning, a cargo plane owned by local operator South West Aviation crashed just minutes after takeoff from Juba International Airport. The cargo plane was heading to Wau town in the country’s northwest.

According to reports from government officials, eight people lost their lives, while a single passenger survived with injures.

It was reported that the cargo plane was chartered by the World Food Programme.

However, in a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the humanitarian agency denied reports that it hired the cargo plane.

“The aircraft did not belong to WFP and was not chartered by WFP to move cargo. The Antonov aircraft was chartered by Galaxy Star International, one of several service providers in South Sudan holding contracts with WFP and other UN agencies,” WFP said.

WFP underscored that its humanitarian work was not affected by the plane crash, adding that its programmes in South Sudan continue to operate.