The frightening accident occurred at Kolwezi Airport in Lualaba province. The Embraer ERJ 145LR aircraft, operated by Airjet Angola, was arriving from the capital, Kinshasa, when it overshot the runway during its landing approach.
Shortly after leaving the tarmac, the rear section of the jet was engulfed in a fierce fire, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. Dramatic footage from the scene shows emergency crews battling the blaze with water hoses.
Miraculously, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated before the fire took hold. Reports indicate that those in the front of the cabin were able to quickly exit using the aircraft stairs. While the passengers escaped unscathed, luggage and the rear half of the plane were severely damaged by the fire.
An official investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the crash landing. The minister and his delegation were traveling to assess a separate tragedy—a mine collapse that killed 32 workers just days earlier.
#DRCongo #PlaneCrash #LouisWatum #AirjetAngola #Kolwezi #AviationSafety #Mining
