Minister Louis Watum Kabamba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo walked away unhurt after the plane carrying him and his delegation caught fire following a runway incident at Kolwezi Airport on Monday. Emergency crews successfully evacuated all passengers before flames engulfed the aircraft.
The minister’s communications adviser, Isaac Nyembo, stated the plane overran the runway while landing from Kinshasa. Smoke quickly filled the cabin, and although all roughly 20 passengers escaped unharmed, most luggage was destroyed. Images from witnesses showed heavy smoke and firefighters battling the blaze.
An initial investigation has been launched into the runway overrun, though the cause—whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or other factors—remains unknown.
Minister Watum Kabamba was en route to assess conditions at the Kalondo mine, where 32 people recently died in a mining accident. Despite the plane incident, the minister remains committed to his mission, with alternative transport arrangements being explored.
Both the mining tragedy and the airport fire have intensified scrutiny on safety standards in Congo’s mining and aviation sectors, raising broader concerns about regulatory enforcement and infrastructure readiness across the country.