At least 14 killed in plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo
At least 14 people, including two senior military officials, died when a plane crashed in Kenge while returning to Kinshasa from Kikwit, the Congolese military said. Authorities said everyone aboard was killed and an investigation has been opened into the cause of the accident.
At least 14 people were killed when a plane crashed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congolese military said on Friday. The aircraft was travelling back to the capital, Kinshasa, from Kikwit in the country’s south-west when it developed a technical fault and crashed in Kenge, according to local officials. Everyone on board died.
The dead included two senior military officials: Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, head of the military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, auditor general of the armed forces, the Associated Press reported. Major General Efomi Ekenge, a spokesperson for the Congolese military, said 12 members of the delegation and crew also died in the accident. The source material did not give further details about the aircraft or the identities of the other victims.
Ekenge said an investigation had been launched to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash. Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, chairman of the board of Congo’s Civil Aviation Authority, said the cause was not immediately known. The crash occurred as the Congolese military continues fighting rebel groups in the country’s eastern region.
Those groups include the Rwanda-backed M23, according to the source material. The conflict has intensified following rebel attacks and the capture of several key cities. The military’s statement did not indicate whether the crash was connected to the conflict.
No further information about possible survivors, the aircraft’s operator or the investigation timetable was provided.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.