DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Plane crashes into house killing at least 20 in western DRC

Record ID: 382082

  • Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Plane crashes into house killing at least 20 in western DRC
  • Date: 26th August 2010
  • Summary: SOUNDBITE (Lingana) EYEWITNESS WHO SAW CRASH SAYING: "We saw the plane losing kerosene over our heads and suddenly it broke at the neck near the cockpit and fell on this house, killing two children who were inside."
  • Embargoed: 10th September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA5JDCXTL2WCKUUM1AG8CA6B5VL
  • Story Text: At least 19 people were killed on Wednesday (August 25) in a plane crash in western Democratic Republic of Congo, a medical officer said in Bandundu.
    "In the mortuary here we have 14 bodies. Outside we have five. In total we have recorded 19 bodies," the official said at the local hospital where a survivor was being treated.
    The plane crashed onto a house, killing two children, as it attempted to land at a nearby airstrip.
    "We saw the plane losing kerosene over our heads and suddenly it broke at the neck near the cockpit and fell on this house, killing two children who were inside," an eyewitness told Reuters at the scene of the crash.
    The plane belonged to a local company called Filair. It was reportedly attempting to land at the Bandundu airstrip.
    The central African country's transport networks have largely fallen into decay after years of conflict and neglect, making travel by road or rail often impossible.
    But the nation has among the world's worst air safety records and crashes are frequent.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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