Plane turns into ‘fireball’ during landing; Minister and top officials escape unhurt
Babushahi Bureau
Kinshasa (Congo), November 17, 2025: A major aviation scare unfolded on Monday at Kolwezi Airport in Congo when a passenger aircraft carrying the country’s Mining Minister Louis Watum Kabamba and several senior officials met with a terrifying accident during landing.
The aircraft, arriving from Kinshasa to Lualaba province, reportedly skidded off Runway 29 the moment it touched down. Within seconds, the rear section of the plane burst into flames, creating chaos on the runway.
Despite the horrifying scene, all passengers — including the minister — managed to exit the aircraft safely in time.
According to initial reports, the aircraft lost control during landing after its landing gear collapsed. The impact caused the aircraft to veer off the runway and overturn, immediately triggering a massive fire at the tail section.
Videos from the scene show workers and airport staff attempting to extinguish the flames while passengers sprinted away from the burning aircraft to save their lives. The minister’s communications advisor, Ishak Nyembo, confirmed that no passengers or crew members suffered injuries, though the aircraft was completely destroyed in the fire.
Minister Kabamba was en route to visit the Kalondo mine, where dozens of workers recently lost their lives after a bridge collapsed due to heavy rainfall.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the accident was caused by a technical fault or poor runway conditions. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over aviation safety standards in the region.