At least 17 people have died after a plane crashed in Kenge, the capital of Kwango Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with two senior military officials among those killed.
The aircraft came down on Friday, September 25, in a residential area of Kenge after experiencing problems during a flight from Kikwit to Kinshasa. Initial reports put the death toll at 13 before authorities later revised the figure upward.
The accident has raised renewed concerns about aviation safety in a country where air travel remains an important means of connecting communities separated by difficult road networks.
Two senior military officials killed
Among those who died were Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, first president of the DRC’s High Military Court, and Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, the military auditor general.
The two generals had been returning from an official assignment in Kikwit when the aircraft crashed in Kenge, according to the Congolese armed forces.
Their deaths have been confirmed by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), which described the officers as senior figures who had devoted their careers to military justice and public service.
Other military personnel, civilians and members of the aircraft’s crew were also among those who died.
Aircraft crashed in residential area
The plane was travelling from Kikwit in Kwilu Province towards Kinshasa when it reportedly developed a technical problem while flying over Kenge.
According to provincial authorities, the pilot attempted to find a suitable place to land but was unable to do so before the aircraft crashed into a residential plot in the city.
The initial information indicated that there were no reported fatalities among people on the ground.
Witnesses and local officials described the aircraft making several movements over the area as the pilot apparently searched for a place to bring it down safely.
Death toll revised
The number of confirmed victims changed as authorities continued identifying those involved.
An initial official account reported 13 deaths, including three army officers. Later information from provincial authorities raised the number to 17, comprising 13 military personnel and four civilians, including a child.
The differing figures in the hours immediately after the crash reflected the difficulty authorities faced in establishing the identities of those on board.
The aircraft was badly damaged in the crash, with reports indicating that several victims were difficult to identify.
Investigation launched
The Congolese authorities have opened an investigation into the accident.
The purpose of the inquiry is to establish what caused the aircraft to experience difficulties and determine why the pilot was unable to land safely.
The FARDC announced that investigations would examine the circumstances surrounding the crash and identify the precise cause of the accident.
Aviation investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight information and other available evidence as part of the process.
At this stage, the reported technical problem remains an initial explanation rather than a final determination of the cause.
Tragedy for Congo’s military establishment
The deaths of the two senior military justice officials have added significance to the accident.
Lieutenant General Mutombo served as the first president of the country’s High Military Court, while Lieutenant General Likulia served as military auditor general attached to the same judicial institution.
Their deaths remove two senior figures from Congo’s military justice system at a time when the country’s armed forces are facing significant security challenges.
The DRC has been dealing with persistent conflict in its eastern provinces, where the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has captured large areas since 2025.
However, there is no indication that the latest plane crash was connected to the conflict in eastern Congo.
Authorities continue recovery and identification efforts
Following the crash, local officials and security personnel worked to secure the area and recover the victims.
The authorities have also been working to establish a complete account of the passengers and crew who were aboard the aircraft.
The investigation is expected to provide more information about the flight, the reported technical problem and the circumstances leading to the crash.
For now, the DR Congo plane crash has left at least 17 people dead, including two senior military officials, while the country awaits the findings of the official investigation.
