A tragic plane crash occurred in Kenge, southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on Friday, September 25, 2026, claiming the lives of 17 people. The Let L-410 aircraft, operated by Tracep Congo Aviation, was traveling from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it developed a technical problem during the flight. The aircraft crashed in the Manzawu area of Masikita commune in Kenge, the capital of Kwango Province, and was engulfed by fire.
The victims of the crash included two senior military justice officials: Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, First President of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, Auditor General of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). Their deaths were confirmed by the Congolese army. The two generals were part of a high-level delegation returning from an official mission in Kikwit.
According to provincial authorities, the crew attempted to find a suitable location for an emergency landing but could not find an operational airstrip. The aircraft eventually came down in a plot in the residential area and was engulfed by fire. Most of the victims were badly burned in the resulting fire. The pilot’s body was reportedly recovered outside the main wreckage. No injuries or deaths were reported among people on the ground.
The revised toll included 16 adults and a baby, according to the provincial authorities. The bodies of the victims are being recovered and transferred to Kinshasa, while authorities continue efforts to formally identify those killed. The disaster has also renewed attention on the challenges of air transport in the DRC, where the country’s vast territory and limited aviation infrastructure can complicate emergency operations and access to suitable landing facilities.
The Permanent Bureau of Investigation into Aviation Accidents and Incidents (BPEA) has opened a safety investigation into the crash. Investigators have been dispatched to the site and authorities have been instructed to preserve the wreckage and other evidence while the investigation continues. The exact cause of the technical problem remains unknown.
Investigators are expected to establish what happened during the flight, why the aircraft was unable to reach a suitable landing location, and what ultimately caused the crash. Kenge does not have an airport meeting the required civil aviation standards, according to the Congolese Press Agency. This has raised concerns about the safety of air travel in the region.
The investigation into the Kenge crash is ongoing, and no definitive cause has yet been established. The incident has sparked an outpouring of condolences for the families of the victims. Authorities are working to determine the cause of the crash and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- Two top military generals were among those killed in the plane crash.
- The plane crash was caused by a technical problem that developed during the flight.
- The incident has raised concerns about the safety of air travel in the DRC.
