Teh Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, was involved in a plane crash Monday while traveling to assess the aftermath of a recent mining disaster that claimed dozens of lives. The Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft, operated by Airjet Angola, landed short of the runway at Kolwezi airport in Lualaba province and caught fire, though all 29 people on board were safely evacuated.This incident occurs amidst heightened concerns over both mining safety and air travel infrastructure within the DRC, a nation rich in natural resources but frequently enough challenged by logistical and safety issues. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
Published On 17/11/2025
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آخر تحديث: 23:08 (توقيت مكة)
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, survived a plane crash Monday morning while landing at Kolwezi Airport in the country’s southern Lualaba province. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew, according to local sources. This incident comes at a sensitive time for the DRC, which is grappling with ongoing challenges in its vital mining sector.
The aircraft, an Embraer ERJ 145 operated by Airjet Angola, was traveling from Lubumbashi to Kolwezi when it landed short of the runway. This caused the main landing gear to collapse and the plane to veer off course before flames erupted from the tail section, sources said.
Emergency crews were able to evacuate all 29 people on board, including Minister Kabamba, before the aircraft was completely consumed by fire.
تحطم طائرة تقل وفدا مرافقا لوزير المناجم في جمهورية #الكونغو الديمقراطية أثناء هبوطها في مطار كولويزي بمقاطعة لوالابا، دون وقوع إصابات بين الركاب.#الجزيرة_مباشر pic.twitter.com/ngdb3vfan2
— الجزيرة مباشر (@ajmubasher) November 17, 2025
Videos circulating on social media showed flames engulfing the plane as citizens and rescue teams rushed to the scene.
The crash occurred less than 48 hours after a mining collapse in the Kalando area near the village of Mulondo, which resulted in the deaths of at least 49 artisanal miners. Minister Kabamba was en route to the region to assess the site of the disaster and offer condolences to the victims’ families on what was described as an emergency humanitarian mission.
Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the precise cause of the incident, with initial speculation pointing to a technical malfunction during the landing approach. The incident is likely to raise further scrutiny of aviation safety standards in the DRC.
