Congo Plane Crash Kills 14 Including Two Senior Military Officials

A plane carrying a military delegation crashed near Kenge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while returning to Kinshasa from Kikwit, killing 14 people, according to the Congolese military. Two senior military officials were among those who died.

The aircraft reportedly developed a technical problem during the journey. It went down in Kenge, in Kwango Province, after the crew faced difficulties with the flight. Authorities have not yet established the exact cause of the accident, and an investigation has been launched.

Among the victims were Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, who headed the country’s military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, the auditor general of the armed forces. The military said other members of the delegation and crew were also killed.

The aircraft had been returning from Kikwit when the incident occurred near Kenge. Local reports said the plane had encountered trouble before the crash and was unable to complete its journey to the capital.

The crash site was affected by fire after the aircraft came down, making recovery and identification efforts difficult. Security and technical teams were sent to the location, while authorities began collecting information needed for the investigation.

There has been some variation in early reports about the number of people aboard and the final death toll. Initial local reports mentioned 13 occupants, while later statements from Congolese military and provincial authorities put the death toll at 14 or higher. The official military account cited by international reports confirms 14 deaths.

Officials are now working to establish what happened during the final stage of the flight. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight records and other available evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The accident has also renewed attention on aviation safety in the DRC, where questions over aircraft maintenance and operating conditions have been raised following previous accidents. However, authorities have not yet confirmed those factors as the cause of this particular crash.