UN plane carrying 32 people crashes in DR Congo, at least 12 dead

UN plane carrying 32 people crashes in DR Congo, at least 12 dead

2011-04-04 23:57:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

KINSHASA, DR CONGO (BNO NEWS) -- A United Nations plane carrying more than 30 people crashed in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday afternoon, officials said, killing at least 12 people.

United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky said the aircraft was carrying 29 passengers and 3 crew members when it crashed while landing at N'Djili International Airport in Kinshasa, the capital and largest city of Congo. The flight had originated from the city of Kisangani.

Nesirky said the United Nations had no details yet on the number of casualties, but local aviation officials confirmed at least 12 people had been killed while others were injured. The aircraft belonged to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

In September 2008, a total of 17 people were killed when a small United Nations plane crashed into a mountain near Bukavu in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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