Multiple people have died after a Busy Bee Dornier 228 crashed in a residential area in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The aircraft, a Dornier Do 228-200 registered 9S-GNH, was performing its scheduled flight from Goma to Beni with 16 passengers and two crew members when, during takeoff, the aircraft crashed.
Early reports suggest that during takeoff from runway 17, the aircraft failed to become airborne or climbed ever so slightly before losing altitude and crashing.
Impacting multiple buildings in the dense residential area of Birere, just south of the runway, the aircraft tore apart and burst into flames.
Please not that the following footage may cause distress to some:
Breaking – moment plane crashes into a crowded neighborhood of Goma in #congodrc , local media reporting at least 23 dead. Airline , busybee, was flying 17 passengers to Butembo. I had looked at the option of booking this flight. Many stuck in Beni and Butembo due to protests pic.twitter.com/kqmTHnBgQM
— Monica Villamizar (@monica_vv) November 24, 2019
🚨RDC /Goma : Crash d’un petit porteur de l’agence Busy Bée ce dimanche matin. Il y aurait déjà des victimes… A suivre le bilan… pic.twitter.com/O8aNYPiphn
— Clash_Royale_HQ (@Clash_Royale_HQ) November 24, 2019
#CrashGoma : 24 corps déjà retrouvés, les recherches se poursuivent . Il y a aussi des victimes qui étaient présentes dans la maison sur laquelle s’est écrasé l’avion de Busy bee. pic.twitter.com/Vz0t4OdnRU
— Christina Mukongoma Malkia (@ChristinaMk9) November 24, 2019
Reuters notes that one of their witnesses saw two people rescued from the site before the aircraft exploded. It remains unclear how many people on the ground have been injured or killed as a result of the crash.
For those interested in the METAR data:
- FZNA 240800Z 18008KT 9000 FEW018CB BKN300 25/15 Q1022 NOSIG=
- FZNA 240700Z 18008KT 9000 SCT016 FEW020CB 22/17 Q1022 NOSIG=
Authorities are working together to secure the scene and prevent further injuries. Some sources in contact with the media state that the aircraft suffered from an engine failure during takeoff, however this is yet to be confirmed.
Rescue workers are continuing to assess the situation and will begin to clear the site up, once an initial investigation has been completed.
Unfortunately air accidents are frequent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as a result of poor safety standards and poor maintenance. All flights operated by commercial airlines from the country are banned from operating in the European Union.
More information will be added once available.