At least 14 people, including senior military officers, were killed when a Congolese army aircraft crashed on Friday while attempting an emergency landing in Kenge, Kwango province.
The flight was en route from the southwestern city of Kikwit to the capital, Kinshasa, when it reportedly developed a technical fault. Authorities say the crew tried to divert to Kenge, but with no proper landing strip available the plane came down in a residential plot.
Casualties and Official Statements
Major-General Efomi Ekenge, a Congolese military spokesperson, confirmed that 14 people died in the accident. "All those on board died; 12 were burned beyond recognition, while the pilot's lifeless body was found outside the aircraft," he said.
Remy Saki Bokinda, deputy governor of Kwango, reiterated that the aircraft struck a residential area because there was no landing strip in Kenge. According to military sources, the victims included civilians, members of an official delegation travelling with two generals, and other military personnel.
Investigation and Context
An official investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the crash, military officials said. Preliminary accounts point to a technical failure, but investigators will examine maintenance records, flight data and witness statements.
The accident comes amid ongoing security challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The vast, mineral-rich country has endured decades of conflict, particularly in the east where several armed groups vie for control of mining areas. The Congolese armed forces have been conducting operations against multiple rebel groups that have seized key cities since last year.
What Happens Next: The investigation will seek to establish the exact cause of the failure and whether operational or infrastructural issues—such as the lack of a landing strip in Kenge—contributed to the crash.
