Let L-410 crashes in DR Congo, no survivors reported
A Let Aircraft Industries L-410 operated by Tracep Congo Aviation came down near Kenge in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo on 25 September. Investigators say there appear to be no survivors and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
A Let Aircraft Industries L-410UVP has crashed in Kenge, about 200km east of Kinshasa, the Congolese investigation authority BPEA said. The twin-engined aircraft, registration 9S-GUC, was operated by Tracep Congo Aviation, a carrier based in Goma. The crash happened on 25 September.
BPEA said there appear to be no survivors and the airframe burned out completely. Investigators have been sent to the site. The authority is asking the operator for a passenger list and has requested help from civilian and military authorities to keep the wreckage undisturbed.
Le Potentiel reports the flight was returning to Kinshasa from Kikwit, with several senior government officials on board, including the auditor general of the armed forces. Kenge lies roughly midway along that route.
Tracep Congo Aviation is on the European Union's list of banned carriers, which reflects a general prohibition covering airlines from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
BPEA is also investigating two other accidents earlier in the month, one involving a Douglas DC-8 and the other a Boeing 737-300. Neither caused injuries, the authority said.
Sources
- flightglobal.comTracep L-410 fatally crashes in western DR Congo