SRINAGAR: Fourteen people, including two senior military officials, were killed after a plane carrying a military delegation crashed in the Democratic Republic of Congo while returning to the capital Kinshasa from Kikwit, the BBC reported.
The aircraft crashed in Kenge after reportedly developing a technical problem during its return journey, according to local officials. The cause of the reported fault and the subsequent crash has not been established.
The Congolese military confirmed the deaths. Its spokesperson, Major General Efomi Ekenge, said the delegation included Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, head of the country’s military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, auditor general of the armed forces.
“in addition to the two general officers, twelve members of the delegation and the crew members also lost their lives in this accident,” Ekenge said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the crash. Ekenge said the inquiry would determine the circumstances that led to the accident.
Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, chairman of the board of the Civil Aviation Authority, separately said the cause of the crash remained unknown.
The accident occurred as the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face a security crisis, particularly in its eastern regions, where the military is engaged in fighting against several armed groups.
Among the main armed groups is the M23 rebel movement, which has been accused of receiving backing from Rwanda. The group has seized key cities in eastern Congo following a series of attacks since last year, adding to the continuing instability in the region.
