A Tanzanian passenger plane crashed into Lake Victoria Sunday morning as it attempted to land in the lakeside town of Bukoba, killing at least 19 people, including two pilots.

Precision Airlines took Flight PW494 from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania but crashed into Lake Victoria Sunday morning. Rescuers rushed to the scene but sadly 19 people including two pilots lost their lives

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The Precision Air flight was carrying 43 people, 26 of whom have been rescued and sent to hospital, an official said.

The two pilots had initially survived the crash but remain trapped inside the cockpit from where they spoke to local officials.

The flight had experienced “problems and bad weather” while approaching Bukoba Airport, the capital of the Kagera Region in northwest Tanzania, according to local authorities. The plane hit the water during storms and heavy rain, the state Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) reported.

A witness told the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) he saw the plane flying unsteadily as it approached the airport in poor visibility conditions, saying it took a turn for the airport but missed and went into the lake.

Rescue workers and local fishermen are on the scene trying to rescue those still inside the aircraft.

After the crash, the plane was almost completely submerged with only the brown and green tail fin above the water.

Emergency workers have used ropes to pull the ATR-42 aircraft closer to the shore of Lake Victoria. One end of the runway at Bukoba airport lies right next to the shore of Africa’s largest lake.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed her condolences to those affected and called for calm as the rescue operation continues.

Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest private airline and is partly owned by Kenya Airways. It was founded in 1993 and operates domestic and regional flights.

Precision Air, Tanzania’s largest privately owned airline, identified the aircraft as an ATR42-500. Airline officials did not immediately respond to calls seeking further details about the incident.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan called for calm and commiserated with the victims and their relations.

“I have received with sadness the news of the accident involving Precision Air’s plane,” she tweeted. “Let’s be calm at this moment when rescuers are continuing with the rescue mission while praying to God to help us.”