DR Congo Military Plane Crash Kills at Least 17, Including Senior Officials

Emergency responders and security personnel at the scene of a military plane crash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo credit : AI-generated illustrative image created for IndrajitGlobalnews.

KINSHASA – At least 17 people have been killed after a Congolese army plane crashed into a residential area in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The aircraft was travelling from Kikwit toward the capital, Kinshasa, when it developed a technical problem and attempted to land in Kenge in Kwango province, according to reports.

The aircraft crashed into a residential plot and caught fire. Initial reports put the death toll lower, but authorities later reported that 17 bodies had been recovered, including those of civilians.

Two senior military officials were among those killed. Earlier reports had placed the confirmed death toll at 14 before the figure was revised upward.

 The accident involved a military aircraft carrying a delegation and crew members.

Authorities have not yet released a final investigation into what caused the aircraft to develop the reported technical problem.

The crash has raised concerns about aviation safety and the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s attempted landing.

Emergency and local authorities responded to the crash site, while officials continued efforts to identify the victims and establish the full circumstances of the accident.

Because the investigation is still at an early stage, additional information could change details surrounding the incident.

Source: Al Jazeera, AP and Reuters reporting.