Military aircraft crash in DRC kills 13, including senior army auditor
A military plane traveling from Kikwit to Kinshasa crashed near Kenge, killing all 13 on board, among them General Likulia Bakumi.
On Friday, a military transport plane departing Kikwit for Kinshasa suffered a technical problem and tried to land in Kenge, Kwango province, where no airstrip was available. The aircraft slammed into a residential area, killing all 13 occupants. Twelve of the victims were burned beyond identification, and the pilot's body was recovered outside the fuselage.
Passengers included General Likulia Bakumi, the army's auditor general, as well as a major, a captain, other military staff and civilians. Kwango vice governor Remy Saki Bokinda reported the crash and confirmed the total loss of life. The Congolese aviation accident investigation authority has launched an investigation, while the army continues to grapple with setbacks from rebel activity last year.
Why it matters
The crash kills senior military officials and raises concerns about aviation safety in the DRC.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the same basic facts of the crash, but left-leaning coverage stresses the horror and graphic details, while right-leaning coverage highlights the technical cause and broader security context.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage frames the crash as a horrifying tragedy, emphasizing the graphic aftermath and the loss of senior military figures.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames the incident as a technical accident, noting the lack of an airstrip, the ensuing investigation, and its link to ongoing security challenges.
The left emphasises
- horrifying plane crash
- 12 were burned beyond recognition
- senior military figures among those killed
The right emphasises
- technical problem and attempted landing at a site with no airstrip
- investigation launched by the aviation accident authority
- army continues to grapple with setbacks from rebel activity
How this story developed
- Sep 23 RAF Hawk jet crashes shortly after take-off from RAF Valley, crew eject safely
- Sep 23 Police have confirmed that two crew members are believed to have ejected from the aircraft.
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