KINSHASA — At least 14 people, including high-ranking military officials, were killed on Friday when a Congolese army aircraft crashed in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking one of the most significant aviation disasters for the nation’s armed forces in recent years.
The military transport plane went down in the province of Kongo Central, a region situated between the capital, Kinshasa, and the Atlantic coast. Local authorities and military spokespersons confirmed that the aircraft was en route from the capital when it encountered catastrophic technical difficulties before plunging into a wooded area.
According to preliminary reports from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), the flight was carrying a contingent of military personnel, including several senior officers who were reportedly traveling on an official mission. While the military has yet to release the formal manifest, sources within the defense ministry indicated that the toll of 14 includes the flight crew and multiple staff officers of the Congolese military.
“It is a dark day for our armed forces,” said a spokesperson for the military, confirming that search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site. “We have recovered the remains of 14 individuals. Investigations are currently underway to determine the exact cause of this tragic accident, whether it was due to mechanical failure, adverse weather conditions, or other factors.”
Emergency responders, supported by local police and military units, arrived at the remote scene within hours of the crash. The rugged terrain and heavy vegetation in the region initially hampered rescue efforts, but officials confirmed that the site was secured by late afternoon. Eyewitnesses in nearby villages reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a plume of smoke, describing the impact as devastating.
The Congolese aviation sector has a historically poor safety record, exacerbated by aging aircraft fleets and inadequate infrastructure. Many of the country’s military and commercial planes are decades old, and maintenance protocols have frequently come under scrutiny following past incidents. Friday’s tragedy is expected to reignite national debates regarding the urgent need to modernize the military’s air assets.
President Félix Tshisekedi has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, declaring that the government would provide full support to the affected households during this mourning period. Military officials have vowed to conduct a thorough and transparent inquiry into the crash, with the goal of preventing similar disasters in the future.
As of Friday evening, the wreckage remained under military guard as investigators sought to locate the flight data recorder. The identities of the senior officials aboard are expected to be made public once the families of the deceased have been formally notified.
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