129 Congo Air Passengers Feared Dead
37 minutes ago
By EDDY ISANGO, Associated Press Writer
KINSHASA, Congo - The rear door of a Russian-built cargo plane burst open as the aircraft was carrying police officials and their families across Congo, and 129 passengers were sucked out , airport officials said Friday.
AP Photo
Defense Minister Irung Awan confirmed the accident occurred Thursday night, but said he was unaware of any deaths among the 200 people aboard.
After the accident occurred some 45 minutes into the flight, the pilots managed to turn back and land the plane in Kinshasa, Awan said.
Two officials at the international airport in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, independently told The Associated Press that 129 people were feared dead after being sucked out of the plane. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
The plane, a privately owned Ilyushin 76, had apparently been chartered to transport Congolese police and their families from Kinshasa to the southeastern city of Lubumbashi, a diamond city.
After the accident occurred some 45 minutes into the flight, the pilots managed to turn back and land the plane in Kinshasa, Awan said.
On Feb. 19, an Ilyushin 76 crashed in bad weather in Iran, killing 275, including more that 200 elite Iranian soldiers
37 minutes ago
By EDDY ISANGO, Associated Press Writer
KINSHASA, Congo - The rear door of a Russian-built cargo plane burst open as the aircraft was carrying police officials and their families across Congo, and 129 passengers were sucked out , airport officials said Friday.
AP Photo
Defense Minister Irung Awan confirmed the accident occurred Thursday night, but said he was unaware of any deaths among the 200 people aboard.
After the accident occurred some 45 minutes into the flight, the pilots managed to turn back and land the plane in Kinshasa, Awan said.
Two officials at the international airport in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, independently told The Associated Press that 129 people were feared dead after being sucked out of the plane. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
The plane, a privately owned Ilyushin 76, had apparently been chartered to transport Congolese police and their families from Kinshasa to the southeastern city of Lubumbashi, a diamond city.
After the accident occurred some 45 minutes into the flight, the pilots managed to turn back and land the plane in Kinshasa, Awan said.
On Feb. 19, an Ilyushin 76 crashed in bad weather in Iran, killing 275, including more that 200 elite Iranian soldiers
