What happened
Shortly after departing from a stretch of asphalt road used as a runway near Walikale, a twin-engine aircraft intended for Goma experienced mechanical difficulties with its engines. Due to these engine problems, the crew initiated an immediate return to the takeoff site in Walikale.
During the period the aircraft was in the air, the road segment used for the departure had been reopened to local traffic. As the aircraft attempted to land on the roadway, it struck multiple vehicles. Following the initial collisions, the aircraft veered off the road and crashed into a residential structure.
Impact and casualties
- The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
- All four occupants on board the aircraft survived the incident with minor injuries.
- One individual traveling in a vehicle on the road was killed in the collision.
The reopening of the roadway to traffic during the flight was the primary factor leading to the ground collisions.