Plane crash in Congo leaves Five people burnt to death

Five people were burnt to death today after a small passenger aircraft crashed in southern Democratic Republic of Congo near the border with Angola.

The piston-engined Antonov 2, operated by local airline Air Kasai, burst into flames, just after takeoff from Kamako for a flight to Tshikapa, 150 kilometres (93 miles) away.

“The plane crashed into the bush three kilometres (two miles) from Kamako. Only two people got out, the pilot and a passenger. They are unable to talk. We already know that five people have died.

We will know the final toll when the company provides us with the passenger list” said Anacletus Muswa Kapinga Safia, the deputy territorial administrator.

The crash is the second in a month in DR Congo’s sprawling Kasai province. Last month, a light plane chartered by the World Food Programme (WFP) had an accident on takeoff at Kamonia, leaving several people injured.