Moment minister's jet bursts into flame as it crashes after shooting off the runway while landing in Democratic Republic of Congo

An Airjet Angola Embraer ERJ-145LR, registration D2-AJB, carrying the Mines Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo and a delegation of top officials, crashed after veering off runway 29 at Kolwezi Airport. The tail section of the aircraft immediately ignited, resulting in a dramatic scene as passengers and crew scrambled to evacuate. Fortunately, despite the intensity of the fire and the chaotic evacuation, there were no fatalities reported.

The aircraft, chartered for the flight from Kinshasa to Kolwezi in Lualaba province, came to rest on its belly off the runway. Videos circulating on social media captured the severity of the blaze and the efforts to extinguish the flames. The minister's communications advisor confirmed the runway excursion during landing.

Investigators have begun the process of determining the cause of the accident. The minister was en route to the Kalondo Mine near Kolwezi, where a recent bridge collapse had resulted in numerous worker deaths. The flight had originated from Kinshasa-N'Djiili, with a stopover prior to arriving at Kolwezi Airport.

The incident underscores the inherent risks associated with air travel, particularly in regions with potentially challenging airport infrastructure or operational conditions. The focus now shifts to the investigation, which will aim to identify the factors that contributed to the runway excursion and subsequent fire, with the goal of preventing similar incidents in the future.