Military Plane Crash in DRC Kills 13

Thirteen people, including three army officers, were killed on Friday when a military plane crashed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a provincial official said.

The aircraft was travelling from the southwestern city of Kikwit to the capital, Kinshasa, when it developed a technical problem and attempted to land in Kenge, Kwango province, according to Remy Saki Bokinda, the province’s vice governor.

Bokinda said there was no landing strip available in Kenge, causing the aircraft to crash into a residential plot.

Among those on board was General Likulia Bakumi, the army’s auditor general, as well as a major, a captain and other military personnel and civilians.

“All those on board died,” Bokinda said, adding that 12 victims were burned beyond recognition while the pilot’s body was found outside the aircraft.

Congo’s aviation accident investigation authority has opened an investigation into the crash, according to a government statement.

SOURCE: AFP