Congolese Air Force cargo plane crashes

The aircraft was transporting logistical support for the president Félix Tshisekedi.

The Congolese Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement saying: “The aircraft, registered A-72903, departed from Goma Airport (GOM), Democratic Republic of Congo, and was on a domestic flight to N'djili International Airport (FIH) in Kinshasa. About one hour into the flight, ATC lost contact with the plane without any distress signal from the crew.”

The wreckage was located on Saturday in a forested area near Punia. Four crew members and four passengers were on board, including the president’s main driver, a logistics manager and two bodyguards. None survived. The plane was also transporting the presidential car. The Congolese President had returned from Goma to Kinshasa on the same day in another aircraft.