Plane crashes into homes in east DR Congo city, killing 29


PTI, Nov 25, 2019, 9:46 AM IST

Goma: At least 29 people were killed when a small plane crashed after takeoff into a densely populated area of the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

A survivor among the 19 people — 17 passengers and two crew members — who were aboard the plane was taken to hospital along with 16 others injured on the ground, the North Kivu regional government said.

“At this stage, 29 bodies have been found in the rubble,” the statement said.
The Busy Bee Dornier-228 smashed into two houses near the airport, the deputy transport minister Jacques Yuma Kipuya said earlier.

The first images from the scene showed smoke billowing above the neighbourhood and the aircraft in flames with local people throwing buckets of water on it.

A video seen by AFP showed the cabin of the plane still smouldering embedded in the wall of the house.

The aircraft had been headed for the city of Beni, 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Goma, when it went down after takeoff in the residential area.
Busy Bee airline staff member Heritier Said Mamadou had earlier confirmed that 19 were on board the flight scheduled from Goma around 9:00 am (0700 GMT).

Busy Bee, a recently established company, has three planes serving routes in the North Kivu province.

The pilot “failed in his takeoff,” Nord Kivu governor Carly Nzanzu Kasivita said in a statement. One of the airline’s maintenance workers at the site, quoted by news site actualite.cd, blamed a “technical problem”.

Among the victims of the Goma crash was a woman who was the coordinator of an association for the defence of women’s rights, Mambo Zawadi, her NGO said.

There were also three civil servants in the housing sector “who were returning to their posts in Butembo and Beni after work sessions that I had organised,” their supervisor Molendo Sakombi said in a statement.

The UN mission deployed in DR Congo, MONUSCO, sent two fire engines to support local rescue services.

Aircraft accidents are common in the vast, conflict-wracked central African country.

Last month an Antonov-72 cargo plane that was providing logistical assistance for a trip by

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and carrying eight crew and passengers went missing after taking off from Goma.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Kodagu murder case accused escapes from police in Hyderabad

Karnataka Maritime Board announces plans for Mangaluru Water Metro Project

Royal Enfield forays into electric bike segment; unveils first model under Flying Flea brand

US going to historically tight presidential election

Balasore tragedy result of composite negligence of railway officials: Orissa High Court

Actress Kasthuri stokes controversy by her remarks on Telugu-speaking people in TN

Three convicted for 2016 Kollam collectorate blast case

Related Articles More

US going to historically tight presidential election

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Khalistanis clash with people at Hindu temple in Canada, Trudeau says unacceptable

Trump says he would not mind somebody ‘shooting’ at him through fake news

US Elections: New Iowa poll shows Kamala Harris leading in presidential race

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Kodagu murder case accused escapes from police in Hyderabad

New software for fast-tracking project approvals: Karnataka Minister Patil

Karnataka Maritime Board announces plans for Mangaluru Water Metro Project

In-flight passengers can access WiFi services only when allowed, say new rules

Royal Enfield forays into electric bike segment; unveils first model under Flying Flea brand

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.