DR Congo plane crash kills at least 17, including two senior military officials

At least 17 people including senior military officials were killed after a Congolese army aircraft crashed in the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC as reported by Al JazeeraThe plane was travelling from Kikwit to the capital Kinshasa on Friday local time when it developed a technical fault and attempted to land in Kenge in Kwango province according to Al JazeeraThe aircraft crashed into a residential area in Kenge after there was no landing strip available Kwango Deputy Governor Remy Saki Bokinda was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera He said the plane caught fire after hitting the groundBokinda later informed reporters that the death toll had risen from the initial figure of 13 to 17 after authorities recovered 16 adult bodies and the body of a baby once the fire at the wreckage was brought under controlThe Congolese army said two senior military officials were among those killed in the crash Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo first president of the High Military Court and Lieutenant General LucienRene Likulia the militarys auditor general as cited by Al JazeeraDemocratic Republic of the Congo President FelixAntoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo expressed grief over the plane crash in Kenge Kwango Province and said the accident claimed the lives of senior military officials including Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende Joseph First President of the High Military Court and Lieutenant General Likulia Bakumi Lucien Rene Auditor General of the FARDCHe has ordered a thorough investigation into the plane crash in Kenge to determine the exact circumstances and causes of the accident while extending condolences to the families of the victims and the Armed Forces of the countryIn a post on X the official account of the Presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo shared The President of the Republic FelixAntoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo learned with profound sorrow of the plane crash that occurred on Friday September 25 2026 in Kenge in Kwango Province According to information provided by the General Staff of the FARDC this accident claimed the lives in particular of LieutenantGeneral Mutombo Katalayi Tiende Joseph First President of the High Military Court and LieutenantGeneral Likulia Bakumi Lucien Rene Auditor General of the FARDC as well as several other members of the delegation and crew In his capacity as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces the Head of State bows before the memory of all the victims and pays tribute to their commitment in service to the RepublicLe Preacutesident de la Reacutepublique FeacutelixAntoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo a appris avec une profonde douleur lrsquoaccident aeacuterien survenu ce vendredi 25 septembre 2026 agrave Kenge dans la province du Kwango Selon les informations communiqueacutees par lrsquoEacutetatMajor Geacuteneacuteral des FARDC cet accident a notamment coucircteacute la vie au LieutenantGeacuteneacuteral Mutombo Katalayi Tiende Joseph Premier Preacutesident de la Haute Cour Militaire et au LieutenantGeacuteneacuteral Likulia Bakumi Lucien Reneacute Auditeur Geacuteneacuteral des FARDC ainsi qursquoagrave plusieurs autres membres de la deacuteleacutegation et de lrsquoeacutequipage En sa qualiteacute de Commandant suprecircme des Forces armeacutees le Chef de lrsquoEacutetat srsquoincline devant la meacutemoire de toutes les victimes et rend hommage agrave leur engagement au service de la Reacutepublique Il a instruit les services compeacutetents de diligenter une enquecircte approfondie afin drsquoeacutetablir les circonstances et les causes exactes de cet accident En cette douloureuse circonstance le Preacutesident de la Reacutepublique adresse ses condoleacuteances les plus attristeacutees aux familles et aux proches des victimes ainsi qursquoagrave lrsquoensemble des Forces Armeacutees de la Reacutepublique Deacutemocratique du Congo Il appelle la Nation congolaise au recueillement et agrave lrsquouniteacute dans lrsquoeacutepreuvemdash Preacutesidence RDC Presidence_RDC September 25 2026He has instructed the competent services to conduct a thorough investigation in order to establish the exact circumstances and causes of this accident In this painful circumstance the President of the Republic extends his most heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims as well as to all the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo He calls on the Congolese Nation to observe a moment of reflection and unity in the face of this trial the post readThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever