A high-level government mission in DR Congo took a frightening turn on Thursday when the aircraft transporting Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba skidded off the runway and caught fire upon landing at Kolwezi Airport. Despite the dramatic incident, the minister and about twenty passengers escaped without injuries.
The plane, which had departed from Kinshasa earlier in the day, veered off course moments after touchdown. According to Isaac Nyembo, the Minister’s Communications Adviser and one of the passengers, the aircraft slid into nearby terrain before igniting. Airport personnel watched in disbelief as the situation unfolded.
Nyembo confirmed that all passengers managed to quickly evacuate before the flames intensified. “Everyone on board was able to exit the aircraft safely. Thankfully, no one was hurt,” he said. However, the blaze destroyed all luggage and personal belongings.
Minister Watum Kabamba was traveling to Kolwezi to lead the government’s response to the recent mining tragedy at the Kalondo site in Mutshatsha territory, where a collapse killed more than 40 artisanal miners last Saturday. His visit forms part of DR Congo’s urgent efforts to address safety concerns in the mining sector.
Aviation authorities in DR Congo are expected to investigate the cause of the runway accident, while the minister continues his mission to assess the mining disaster and coordinate necessary interventions.
