The Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday suspended the operations of the aviation company whose aircraft crashed on Friday in the country’s southwest, killing 17 people, including two army generals and an infant.
A small aircraft operated by Tracep Congo Aviation left Kikwit airport bound for the capital Kinshasa when it crashed at around 2:05 pm local time (13:05GMT) and caught fire, according to Remy Saki, the vice-governor of Kwango, the site of the crash.
The Transport Ministry said the company’s operations had been suspended throughout the nation until investigations by the Permanent Bureau of Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation are concluded.
Seventeen people – 13 passengers, including one infant, and four crew members – were killed in the crash, authorities said on Saturday in figures updated after the aircraft fire was brought under control.
President orders a thorough investigation
Two army generals travelling on an official mission were among the victims: Lt. Gen. Joseph Mutombo, first president of the High Military Court, and Lt. Gen. Lucien-Rene Likulia, the military’s auditor general, the army said in a statement.
On X social network, the Presidency said President Felix Tshisekedi instructed competent authorities to do a thorough investigation to establish the exact circumstances and causes of the crash.
The president extended “his most heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as to all the security forces.”
