Congo plane crash: 7 killed as cargo jet crash-lands in Mbuji-Mayi
Congo plane crash: 7 killed as cargo jet crash-lands in Mbuji-Mayi. At least seven people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a large cargo plane overshot the runway at an airport and struck a number of homes, officials say. (more)
The accident happened at about 4 p.m. local time on Thursday when an Airbus A310 belonging to Services Air attempted to land at an airport in the city of Mbuji-Mayi and overshot the runway, causing it to plow through a residential area near the airport and striking several homes.
Mbuji-Mayi, which is the capital of Kasai-Oriental province, is located in the country’s south-central region and is about 942 kilometers (585 miles) southeast of the capital Kinshasa.
Kasai-Oriental Governor Ngoyi Kasanji told the AFP news agency that at least seven people had been killed in the crash-landing, all of whom lived in homes near the airport. The four crew members who were on board the cargo plane escaped without injury.
A source told Radio Okapi that the accident followed two failed landing attempts, after which the aircraft landed in the middle of the runway and was unable to stop in time. As a result, the plane overshot the runway and came to a stop about 500 meters (546 yards) beyond the end of the runway.
