Major Plane Crash Abroad: 14 Including Two Senior Military Officers Killed
Major Plane Crash Abroad: 14 Including Two Senior Military Officers Killed
In a major aviation disaster, a military aircraft crashed in southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday morning, killing all 14 people on board, including two top-ranking generals. Military authorities confirmed the crash, which occurred after the aircraft developed severe technical snags mid-flight.
The ill-fated plane was heading to the capital, Kinshasa, from the southwestern city of Kikwit when it went down in the Kenge region. There were no survivors among the passengers and crew.
Among the prominent casualties were Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, head of the military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, auditor general of the armed forces. A high-level joint investigation by the civil aviation authority and defense forces has been launched to determine the precise cause of the technical failure.
The tragedy delivers a severe blow to the Congolese armed forces at a perilous moment. Government troops remain locked in fierce combat against Rwanda-backed rebel factions, notably the M23, across the volatile eastern provinces. With rebel forces intensifying offensive maneuvers and seizing critical territory in recent months, the sudden loss of two veteran military commanders presents a critical setback to the nation’s defense apparatus.
By EP Web Desk
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