At least 23 people have been killed after a plane crashed into a densely populated area in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rescue workers attended the scene in the area of Goma after a small plane plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff and sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the air.
Goma airport official Richard Mangolopa said no survivors were expected from the disaster.
At least 23 people have been killed after a plane crashed into a densely populated area in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pictured: Onlookers rushed toward the debris
Goma airport official Richard Mangolopa said no survivors were expected from the disaster. Pictured: Parts of the plane were scattered across the houses
The Dornier-228 aircraft belonged to the Busy Bee airline and was headed to Beni – a town 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of the crash site – at the time
The rescue service coordinator for the operation, Joseph Makundi, said: ‘We are up to 23 bodies now.’
The Dornier-228 aircraft belonged to the Busy Bee airline and was headed to Beni – a town 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of the crash site – at the time.
It is thought that there were 17 passengers on board as well as two members of crew.
Rescue workers attended the scene in the area of Goma after the small plane crashed shortly after take off and have so far recovered 23 bodies
One of the company’s maintenance workers was at the scene and blamed a ‘technical problem’ for the crash, according to local media reports
The U.N. mission in Congo said it sent an Emergency Crash and Rescue team with two fire engines to support Congolese authorities
Busy Bee, a newly established company, has three planes serving routes in the North Kivu province of the country. Pictured: A Dornier 228-200 aircraft operated by Busy Bee
Busy Bee, a newly-established private company, has three planes serving routes in the North Kivu province of the country.
Heritier Said Mamadou, a staff member with the airline, said: ‘There were 17 passengers on board and two crew members.
‘It took off around 9-9.10am (7am GMT).’
Plumes of black smoke were sent billowing into the air as the plane crashed into the densely populated area in the Democratic Republic of Congo
It is thought that all of the 17 passengers who had been on board as well as the two members of crew have died
But the full number of casualties on the ground is not yet known
One of the company’s maintenance workers who was at the scene blamed a ‘technical problem,’ according to news site actualite.cd.
The U.N. mission in Congo said it sent an Emergency Crash and Rescue team with two fire engines to support Congolese authorities.
The full number of casualties on the ground is not yet known.
