Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo – The Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Louis Watum Kamabamba, and his delegation, narrowly escaped a plane crash this morning at Kolwezi Airport in Lualaba province. The incident resulted in the complete destruction of the aircraft, but miraculously, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
The aircraft, an Embraer ERJ 145 operated by Airjet Angola, was carrying Minister Kamabamba from Lubumbashi to Kolwezi. According to local sources, the plane touched down short of the runway threshold, causing the landing gear to collapse. The aircraft veered off course, and a fire erupted in the tail section.
Emergency response teams swiftly evacuated all 29 passengers, including the Minister of Mines. The plane was engulfed in flames shortly after the evacuation. Video circulating online shows dramatic scenes of the burning wreckage and rescue efforts.
This incident occurs less than 48 hours after a devastating mine collapse in the Kalondo area near Molundu village, which claimed the lives of at least 49 artisanal miners. Minister Kamabamba had been en route to the region to assess the damage and offer condolences to the families of the victims, a mission described as humanitarian and urgent.
Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. Initial speculation suggests a possible technical malfunction during the landing process.
