10 Feared Dead As Passenger Plane Crashes Into Residential Area In DR Congo

At least 10 persons have been confirmed dead after a passenger aircraft crashed and burst into flames in Kenge, the capital of Kwango Province in the South-Western Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.

The aircraft, identified as a Let L-410 UVP Turbolet, reportedly crashed into a residential compound while attempting to land after encountering difficulties mid-air.

According to the Kwango provincial government, the plane circled over Kenge several times as the crew searched for a suitable landing spot before it went down.

Vice Governor of Kwango Province, Remy Saki, said the pilot’s body was recovered outside the wreckage, while several passengers were believed to have been burnt to death inside the aircraft after it was engulfed by fire.

Saki disclosed that no resident of the compound where the aircraft crashed was injured.

“Fortunately, none of the occupants of the compound were harmed,” he said.

The total number of persons on board was not immediately ascertained, but authorities confirmed that more than 10 persons died. Some of the victims were said to be military personnel, although their identities and mission were yet to be disclosed.

The provincial government has called for an expert investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the crash, including the condition of the aircraft and the actions of the crew during landing.

The Let L-410 UVP Turbolet is a twin-engine aircraft commonly used for regional flights. Details of the operator, origin and destination of the flight were not immediately available as of press time.

Emergency responders were still at the scene of the crash, while authorities said a full passenger manifest and final casualty figure would be released after preliminary investigations.

The incident has renewed concerns over aviation safety in the Democratic Republic of Congo where poor infrastructure and difficult terrain often pose challenges to air operations.