What happened
While operating a flight from Boende to Kinshasa, an aircraft carrying 18 passengers, six crew members, and 672 kilograms of cargo experienced a critical failure during departure. The flight's initial takeoff attempt was aborted by the captain, who returned the plane to its parking position. A subsequent attempt to depart was initiated shortly thereafter.
During the second takeoff roll, a tire burst occurred while the aircraft was traveling at high speed. Although the pilot attempted to reject the takeoff, the aircraft could not come to a halt within the 1,400-meter runway limits. The plane overran the runway, collided with a fence, and ultimately crashed into a nearby market.
Findings
- The accident resulted in 20 fatalities among those on board, including all six crew members and 14 passengers.
- The crash also caused 13 deaths among individuals on the ground.
- A total of four passengers and six people on the ground sustained various injuries.
- The primary factor in the loss of control was the tire failure during the high-speed takeoff run.