DR Congo Mines Minister survives fiery plane crash as aircraft bursts into flames during landing

Congolese Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba and members of his delegation narrowly escaped tragedy on Monday morning after their aircraft caught fire following a runway accident in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The chartered Embraer jet, carrying the minister and his team, attempted to land at Kolwezi Airport around 11 a.m. when it suddenly failed to stop and skidded off runway 29 on its belly. Moments later, the tail section erupted into flames, with the entire rear half of the aircraft quickly engulfed, according to eyewitness accounts.

Dramatic footage from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke rising as emergency responders rushed to contain the blaze. Fire crews, armed with hoses, battled the inferno while others worked desperately to free passengers trapped inside the burning aircraft.

The front stairs managed to deploy, allowing some passengers to exit swiftly. Others, stuck in the middle section or near the destroyed tail, were forced to leap from the center exit, tumbling onto the wing before dropping to the ground—many clutching their personal belongings.

Isaac Nyembo, the minister’s communications advisor, confirmed that the plane had “run off the runway during landing.” Video captured from inside the aircraft moments before the crash showed rising panic as the wing scraped the ground during touchdown.

Miraculously, no fatalities or major injuries were reported, despite the plane being left completely destroyed by the fire.

The chartered flight was operated by Airjet Angola, and investigators are working to determine the cause of the failed landing.

Minister Kabamba, 63, had been en route to the Kalondo Mine near Kolwezi, where he was expected to meet with local leaders following a separate tragedy over the weekend.

On Saturday, over 30 semi-industrial copper mine workers were killed after a bridge near a mine shaft collapsed, reportedly triggered by heavy rains and panic among workers.

Congo’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service indicated that the chaos may have been sparked by gunfire from military personnel guarding the site.

The Initiative for the Protection of Human Rights has since called for an independent investigation into the mine-related deaths.

Investigations into the plane incident also continue.