A plane crash occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday, September 25, 2026, resulting in multiple deaths. The Antonov aircraft, which is a type of large, Soviet-designed plane often used for cargo and military purposes, was chartered by the DRC authorities. It was flying from Kikwit city to the capital, Kinshasa, when it experienced a technical malfunction. The pilot attempted an emergency landing, but the aircraft crashed into homes in Kenge, a town in Kwango province in southwestern DRC. According to reports, the crash killed Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay, who was the first president of the High Military Court, and Lucien-René Likulia, the auditor general or general prosecutor of the army, along with ten other passengers and the pilot. Another report stated that at least 13 individuals were killed in the incident, including high-ranking military officers, other military personnel, and civilians. The victims included General Likulia Bakumi, the army’s auditor general, as well as a major, a captain, and other military staff, along with civilians. Remy Saki Bokinda, the vice governor of Kwango province, told Reuters that the crash happened because there was no available landing strip in Kenge. He confirmed that the plane was carrying both military personnel and civilians at the time of the crash. A tweet by Francisco Cunha, a local journalist, stated that the plane crashed in Kenge after experiencing technical difficulties during the flight and that all 13 people on board died. The wreckage was reported to have caught fire, and all individuals on board are believed to have perished. Footage from the scene showed people rushing to the burning plane, with thick smoke rising from a hillside. In another video, the lifeless body of the pilot was seen being carried away on a stretcher. Twelve of the victims were described as "burned beyond recognition," while the pilot was found outside the aircraft, according to Mr. Bokinda. The government has launched an investigation into the crash through its aviation accident body. Deadly aviation accidents are not uncommon in the DRC, the second-largest country in Africa, where long distances and poor road infrastructure often make air travel a necessity. Despite its relatively small share of global air traffic, the country has a history of being among those with the most aviation accidents. The cause of this crash remains under investigation.