Congo: At least 14 people died in a plane crash in the African country Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Two senior military officers of the country are also included in the dead. The accident occurred on Friday after a plane returning from Kikwit to the capital Kinshasa crashed in the Kenge area.
Which senior officers died in the accident?
The dead were reported to include Lieutenant General Mutombo Katlayi Tiende, who was head of the military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulya, who was the auditor general of the armed forces. Congolese army spokesman Major General Efomi Ekenge confirmed the death of the two officers.
According to the Army, apart from these two officers, other members of the military delegation and crew were also present in the aircraft.
How did the accident happen while returning from Kikwit to Kinshasa?
The plane was returning from Kikwit to Kinshasa. Information about technical problem in the plane came to light during the flight over Kenge. After this the plane crashed. According to local officials, the plane fell into an empty space on the ground and the people on board lost their lives in the accident.
According to local reports, the plane caught fire after it crashed. The teams that reached the spot recovered the dead bodies.
Has the investigation into the accident started?
Investigation has been started to find out the cause of the accident. Congolese officials have given instructions to secure the accident site and collect evidence related to the accident. Initial reports suggest a technical problem, but the final cause of the accident will become clear only after the investigation is completed.
What is the death toll in the accident?
In the initial information, the number of dead was said to be between 13 and 14. Later, officials of Congo’s Kwango province increased the figure to 17 dead, which included 13 military personnel and four civilians. Therefore, there have been differences in initial reports regarding the number of deaths and the final official figure is expected to be confirmed after investigation.
Why is there already a security crisis in Congo?
A long-running armed conflict continues in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Government forces are waging operations against several rebel groups. Among these, M23 is included in the major groups. Amidst this security crisis, the death of military officers in this accident is considered a big loss for the Congolese army.
