What happened
During a humanitarian charter mission intended to repatriate refugees to Kinshasa, a four-engine aircraft experienced significant difficulties maintaining altitude following its departure from Jamba Airport. The flight, which was carrying passengers back to Kinshasa, entered a stall and subsequently crashed into a field situated only a few kilometers from the airport perimeter.
The accident resulted in a massive loss of life, with 141 fatalities recorded among the occupants. The deceased included 83 children. Out of all those on board, only three individuals survived the impact: the co-pilot and two passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicate that the aircraft was operating far beyond its intended capacity. While the plane was certified for a maximum of 97 passengers, it was carrying a much larger number of people at the time of the accident. The primary factor in the loss of control was excessive weight due to an overloaded aircraft.