A South African Military Plane has Crashed in Congo

A South African Air Force aircraft, crash-landed and caught fire at Goma airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday.

The C-130BZ aircraft was being used as part of a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MONUSCO). It crashed on its way back from Beni, after delivering logistics supplies. It had a damaged left-wing and what appears to be an engine fire. According to Reuters: “Videos on social media showed smoke rising from the airplane but two sources at the airport, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there did not appear to be major damage to the plane.”

Reuters journalist, Fiston Mahamba, said in a tweet that 59 passengers and 8 crew members were rescued from the aircraft. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.