Post by : Rameen Ariff

Kolwezi, DRC – A chartered Embraer ERJ-145, carrying the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba along with about 20 officials, crash-landed at Kolwezi airport on November 17, unleashing thick black smoke into the air. Dramatic footage shared on social media showcased the frantic evacuation of passengers while flames consumed the rear section of the aircraft.

A two-minute and 51-second video taken by a passenger depicted the plane descending with its flaps extended. Unfortunately, the aircraft landed ahead of the designated runway threshold, leading to the collapse of its main landing gear. It ultimately skidded off the runway, coming to rest on its belly as the tail ignited. Dark smoke billowed from the wreckage, heightening the urgency as passengers sought safety.

The plane, bearing the registration D2-AJB and operated by Angolan carrier Airjet, was en route from Kinshasa’s N'Djili Airport to Kolwezi, with a scheduled stop in Lubumbashi. FlightGlobal highlighted that runway 29 at Kolwezi had a displaced threshold of 1,000 meters due to construction, leaving only 1,500 meters for landing, which likely played a role in the mishap.

The BPEA, Congo’s independent civil aviation investigative agency, has initiated a probe into the incident. Fortunately, initial accounts confirmed no casualties, though the aircraft sustained significant damage.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Mines assured that the airborne incident would not hinder the minister's agenda. “The minister is set to continue technical discussions with pertinent authorities regarding the mission to Kalando and the necessary support for impacted communities,” the statement added.

This crash arises amid increased scrutiny over safety standards at regional airports across the Democratic Republic of Congo, where infrastructure issues and ongoing construction projects pose considerable challenges to flight operations.

Authorities and aviation professionals are gearing up to analyze the footage and aircraft data to uncover the exact cause of the incident. Meanwhile, the successful escape of all passengers has been lauded as an exemplary safety response that helped avert a possible calamity.

This event highlights the critical need for stringent runway safety measures, careful approach strategy, and emergency readiness to prevent aviation tragedies.

#Global