RIVER: FERRIES: WAITING AMBULANCES, RELATIVES, SOLDIERS: BODIES BEING BROUGHT ASHORE AND LOADED INTO AMBULANCES.




Initials GEP/VS/BOB/OS



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Background: THE BODIES OF THE 45 PEOPLE WHO DIED WHEN A TRANSPORT PLANE CRASHED INTO THE CONGO ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 16) WERE YESTERDAY RECOVERED AND BROUGHT ASHORE AT THE RIVER PORT OF KINSHASA.

RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL INCLUDING COLONEL NYAMASEKO AND GENERAL MASSIALA WAITED ON SHORE BESIDE THE AMBULANCE WAITING TO RECEIVE THE BODIES.

THE C-46 AIRCRAFT WAS ON CHARTER TO THE CONGO KINSHASA AIRFORCE FROM A LICHTENSTEIN BASED COMPANY. IT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM KINSHASA'S NDJILI AIRPORT TO LULUABOURG AND LUBUMBASHI IN KATANGA PROVINCE. ACCORDING TO AN AIRPORT OFFICIAL THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED UNDERCARRIAGE TROUBLE AS IT PREPARED TO LAND AT LULUABOURG. THE PILOT THEN FLEW BACK TO KINSHASA. HE WAS APPARENTLY CIRCLING THE AIRPORT USING UP FUEL BEFORE ATTEMPTING A CRASH LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.

HELICOPTERS AND SPEEDBOATS WENT QUICKLY TO THE SCENE BUT FOUND NO SURVIVORS. THE PASSENGERS INCLUDED CIVILIANS AS WELL AS MILITARY PERSONNEL.