Fatal plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo

A small Let 410 UVP aircraft operated by Tracep Congo Aviation crashed in the southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo between Friday night and Saturday morning. The incident occurred near Kenge, the capital of Kwango province, while the plane was en route to Kinshasa. The flight suffered a technical failure, prompting the pilot to attempt an emergency landing, which ultimately resulted in the plane crashing into a residential area and catching fire.

While initial military reports estimated at least 13 or 14 fatalities, the Ministry of Transport later confirmed a revised death toll of 17 people, including 13 passengers and 4 crew members. High-ranking officials, including the military inspector general, General Likulia Bakumi, along with other army officers and senior members of the military judiciary, were among those killed.

Authorities are currently investigating the specific circumstances of the crash. This tragedy adds to a series of aviation accidents in the country, highlighting persistent concerns regarding air safety and the integrity of regional transport operations.