Congo plane crash kills 25
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KINSHASA, CONGO — A cargo plane slammed into a residential neighborhood in Congo’s capital seconds after takeoff Thursday, leaving at least 25 people dead in a smoky wreckage of concrete blocks and twisted debris.
The fiery crash underscored the dangers of flying in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire, which has had more fatal air crashes than any other African country, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The Russian-made Antonov 26 turboprop belonged to the Congolese firm Africa One, which has been barred from Europe because of safety concerns.
Citing police reports, United Nations peacekeeping spokesman Michel Bonnardeaux said 25 people had died. Two people on the plane, a mechanic and a flight attendant, survived, though the latter was in critical condition.
Transport Minister Remy Kuseyo said the dead included at least three people on the ground.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said three Russians were among the dead: the pilot, the copilot and a flight engineer. Cargo planes in Congo are frequently flown by pilots from former Soviet republics.
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