• Source:JND
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Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Mines Minister, Louis Watum Kabamba, and his delegation escaped a potentially catastrophic accident on Monday after their aircraft veered off the runway and burst into flames while landing in Kolwezi, located in the southern Lualaba province.

The aircraft, which had departed from Kinshasa, reportedly skidded off the runway upon landing at Kolwezi Airport. According to the minister’s communications advisor, Isaac Nyembo, the plane slid on its belly before a fire erupted in the tail section.

“Moments later, the aircraft caught fire,” Nyembo told reporters, adding that the swift response of the crew and airport authorities ensured that everyone onboard was safely evacuated.

20 Officials Escape Unharmed

Authorities confirmed that all 20 passengers, including Minister Kabamba and several senior officials, managed to escape without injuries. Video footage circulating online shows evacuees rushing away from the aircraft as thick smoke billowed from the fuselage, which lay tilted off the runway. Some survivors reported scrambling through a smoke-filled cabin after the aircraft skidded off the tarmac.

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Although all passengers survived, luggage and some equipment were destroyed in the fire. Emergency teams quickly reached the scene, using water hoses to douse the flames engulfing the aircraft’s rear section.

Aircraft Believed To Be Operated By Airjet Angola

Images and video from the site suggest that the Embraer ERJ-145LR involved in the incident may belong to Airjet Angola, based on visible markings; however, authorities have not yet formally confirmed the operator. The cause of the failed landing remains under investigation, with no official explanation released so far. 

Minister Kabamba, 63, and his delegation were en route to the Kalondo mine, where a tragic collapse on November 15 claimed the lives of more than 30 miners. Initial reports indicate the mine collapse may have been triggered by panic after gunfire from military personnel tasked with securing the site.

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Monday’s aircraft incident has further shaken the region, which is already grappling with the aftermath of the mining tragedy. Investigators are now working to determine whether weather conditions, mechanical failure, or pilot error contributed to the runway accident.

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