17 Dead, Including Two Generals, in DRC Plane Crash

A minimum of 17 individuals lost their lives in the crash of a small aircraft in southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday. The victims included two high-ranking officials from the country’s military judiciary system, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Transport released Saturday.

Details of the fatal flight

The incident occurred around 13:00 GMT near Kingi, the capital of Kwango province, situated more than 200 kilometers east of Kinshasa. The plane was carrying a delegation of military judicial authorities at the time of impact.

In a statement, the Ministry of Transport identified the wreckage as a Let L-410 UVP model operated by Tracep Congo Aviation. The crash resulted in the deaths of 13 passengers and four crew members.

Among the deceased were Joseph Motumbo, the First President of the High Military Court, and Lucien-René Lekolia, the Prosecutor General of the Congolese Armed Forces. Both men held the rank of general, as confirmed by the Presidency via its X platform account.

Legal background of victims

Lekolia had been appointed by President Félix Tshisekedi. He notably prosecuted former President Joseph Kabila in September 2025. In that case, Kabila was convicted in absentia and sentenced to death for treason and war crimes.

The Congolese Army reported that the accident happened while the aircraft was returning from a military mission in Kikwit, located in the neighboring Kwilu province.

Social media circulated images showing flames and black smoke rising from the debris, which lay scattered in the bush. A crowd gathered around the crash site shortly after the incident.

Investigation ordered

President Félix Tshisekedi instructed relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation. His goal is to precisely determine the circumstances and causes behind this tragedy.

Aviation serves as a critical mode of transport between provinces in this vast Central African nation, which lacks a suitable road network, per Agence France-Presse. Aircraft accidents are frequently recorded in the DRC, with most attributed to poor infrastructure conditions at airports and navigation systems.

The Congolese air fleet remains listed on the European Union’s blacklist.

Separately, dozens of people were killed or went missing following a boat sinking in a lake in the Congo region.