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The Saudi Press Agency reported that King Salman bin Abdulaziz sent a cable of condolences to President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Chilombo expressing his deep sorrow over the news of the plane crash in western Congo. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman followed with a similar message conveying his heartfelt sympathy to the president, the victims’ families and the friendly Congolese people. The royal messages wished that the bereaved avoid any further misfortune while offering prayers for the deceased.
Congolese authorities confirmed that the Let L-410UVP aircraft operated by Tracep Congo Aviation crashed on September 25 while flying from Kikwit to Kinshasa. The plane developed a technical problem shortly after departure and the crew attempted an emergency landing in Kenge, the capital of Kwango province, according to Kwango Vice-Governor Remy Saki. The aircraft struck a residential plot and burst into flames with no survivors among the 13 passengers and four crew members aboard.
The death toll included Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, first president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, auditor general of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Provincial officials initially reported 13 fatalities but revised the figure to 17 after recovery teams located additional remains including those of a baby once the fire was extinguished. The Congolese army stated in a release that the victims had been on an official mission in Kikwit before the return flight.
No residents on the ground were injured when the plane impacted the built-up area of Manzawu in Kenge, the vice-governor told local reporters. The runway at the local aerodrome had been decommissioned in 2023 and was no longer operational, contributing to the challenges faced by the pilots during their emergency attempt. According to aviation reports the aircraft circled the city several times before the crash occurred around 2 p.m. local time.
President Felix Tshisekedi expressed profound shock at the loss of the senior officers and other passengers, the presidential office stated. He directed competent authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the exact circumstances and causes of the accident while extending condolences to the families, the armed forces and the nation. The Congolese transport ministry suspended Tracep Congo Aviation’s operations nationwide pending the outcome of the probe by the Permanent Bureau of Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation.
The incident marks another significant loss for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s military justice system, which had relied on the expertise of the two generals in key leadership roles. Vice-Governor Saki emphasized that the revised casualty count emerged only after firefighters gained full control of the wreckage site. Regional media outlets reported that the passengers comprised a mix of military personnel and civilians returning from the mission.
