A tragic plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed the lives of 16 people, including senior army officials, after a 34-year-old Let L-410UVP aircraft malfunctioned and crashed in the Kenge area. The plane, registered 9S-GUC, was on a domestic rotation between Ndolo, Kikwit, and Ilebo when it crashed, killing all on board. The aircraft was operated by Tracep Congo Aviation and had been in service since 1983.
The cause of the accident remains unknown, and an official investigation is underway to determine whether mechanical failure, weather, operational factors, or another circumstance contributed to the crash. Aviation records show that the aircraft had been operated by Goma Express since 2018 and had been photographed at Kinshasa-Ndolo as recently as 2025. The government has confirmed the deaths of senior army officials, including Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende and Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi.
According to the Chairman of the Board of Régie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), the aircraft was carrying 16 people, including 12 passengers and four crew members. The plane had departed on a domestic rotation, covering a return trip between Ndolo, Kikwit, and Ilebo. At Kikwit, five passengers reportedly disembarked, and the aircraft continued to Ilebo, where passengers were picked up for the return journey.
Eyewitnesses report that the plane had more than 20 individuals on board when it hit a domestic compound and erupted in flames. However, the official number of passengers and crew members remains at 16. Observers point out that flights in DR Congo often carry more than their seat capacities and sometimes even take live animals aboard.
The government has released the names of the senior army officials who perished in the crash, including the First President of the Military High Court and the Auditor General of the FARDC. The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) confirmed that the two military officers were on a special army mission when the aircraft crashed.
The pilot's body was discovered outside the plane, a few meters away, indicating that he may have tried to jump from the aircraft when things went out of control. The government has promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash and provide support to the families of the victims.
The age and safety of the aircraft have raised concerns, with some questioning how a 34-year-old plane was still in service. The investigation will likely examine the maintenance and airworthiness of the aircraft, as well as the actions of the pilots and air traffic control.
Key points
- The DR Congo plane crash killed 16 people, including senior army officials.
- The 34-year-old Let L-410UVP aircraft was operated by Tracep Congo Aviation.
- The cause of the accident remains unknown, and an official investigation is underway.
