At least 17 people were killed when a Congolese army aircraft crashed in Kwango province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The victims include senior military officials of the Congolese army.
What happened?
The aircraft was flying to the capital, Kinshasa, from the southwestern city of Kikwit on Friday, Sept. 25, when it began experiencing a technical fault. The pilot attempted to land in Kenge, in Kwango province.
Remy Saki Bokinda, deputy governor of Kwango, said:
“With no landing strip available in Kenge, the plane crashed into a residential plot.”
According to Bokinda, Tracep Congo Aviation operated the crashed aircraft.
Statements from authorities
On Saturday, Sept. 26, the deputy governor told reporters that they “discovered 16 bodies of adults and the body of a baby, bringing the total to 17,” contrary to the initial death toll of 13. He explained that the figure was revised after the fire on the crashed aircraft was brought under control.
In a statement, the Congolese army confirmed the identities of two of the victims: Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo, first president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant General Lucien-Rene Likulia, the military’s auditor general.
In a social media post, DR Congo‘s president’s office and President Felix Tshisekedi told competent authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the exact circumstances and cause of the crash. He also expressed “his most heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as to all the security forces.”
What do you think caused the crash to happen? Let us know in the comments.
