A photograph of a severely damaged airplane wreckage has been circulating on social media, allegedly showing a recent plane crash in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2026. However, a thorough investigation by Eleza Fact using reverse image search tools reveals that the image is not from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Instead, it documents the crash of Turkish Airlines flight TK1951, which occurred on February 25, 2009, near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.
The image was published on Facebook by Benjamin Kinyiro, with a caption claiming it was an accident that recently occurred in Kinshasa. Several Facebook users expressed doubts in the comments section, questioning the date and authenticity of the information. Some users asked for clarification on the date of the accident, while others questioned its validity.
Eleza Fact conducted a reverse image search, which led to multiple publications covering the crash of Turkish Airlines flight TK1951. The image appeared in an article published by The Guardian on February 25, 2009, which reported on the crash near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. The article stated that the plane, a Boeing 737-800, had departed from Istanbul and was carrying 135 people.
The image was attributed to photographer Peter Dejong of the Associated Press. Similar images were also published by other media outlets, including CBS News, the New York Post, LaPresse, DH, and BBC News, all of which confirmed that the accident occurred on February 25, 2009, near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
The crash of Turkish Airlines flight TK1951 resulted in nine fatalities and dozens of injuries. Investigations by Dutch authorities focused on issues related to the plane's altimeter. In contrast, no credible sources were found indicating a plane crash occurred in Kinshasa in 2026 that matched the image.
However, an incident did occur at N'Djili International Airport on September 8, 2026, involving a Trans AirCargo Service cargo plane that veered off the runway during takeoff and came to rest in a sandy area at the end of the runway. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported. The incident was documented by several Congolese media outlets, but the photographs and circumstances differed from those of the 2009 Turkish Airlines crash.
In conclusion, the image circulating on social media is false and has been taken out of context. The photograph actually shows the aftermath of the Turkish Airlines flight TK1951 crash in 2009, not a 2026 accident in Kinshasa. Eleza Fact advises social media users to verify the origin and date of images before sharing, especially when they are used to illustrate recent or sensitive events.
Key points
- The image of the plane crash is from a 2009 Turkish Airlines accident in Amsterdam, not a 2026 incident in Kinshasa.
- The crash of Turkish Airlines flight TK1951 occurred on February 25, 2009, near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, resulting in nine fatalities.
- No credible sources confirm a plane crash in Kinshasa in 2026 matching the image.
