A plane carrying the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, caught fire on arrival at Kolwezi Airport in Lualaba Province on Monday, November 17, 2025. The aircraft, which had flown from Kinshasa, burst into flames at the rear section shortly after landing. Video footage shows passengers rushing off the plane as the fire spread. Authorities confirmed that all passengers and crew survived. Local reports suggest the aircraft had experienced technical problems while still in the air. Firefighters at the airport quickly responded and managed to put out the blaze.

A plane carrying the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, caught fire on arrival at Kolwezi Airport in Lualaba Province on Monday, November 17, 2025. The aircraft, which had flown from Kinshasa, burst into flames at the rear section shortly after landing. Video footage shows passengers rushing off the plane as the fire spread. Authorities confirmed that all passengers and crew survived. Local reports suggest the aircraft had experienced technical problems while still in the air. Firefighters at the airport quickly responded and managed to put out the blaze. Minister Watum Kabamba and his delegation were travelling to Kolwezi to assess the situation following a deadly landslide at a nearby mining site. The Lualaba provincial government says the collapse has claimed dozens of lives, with the toll expected to rise. The mine disaster occurred on Saturday at the Mulondo site in the Kawama area of Mutshatsha Territory. Radio Okapi reported that at least 40 people died, with 34 bodies still in a hospital morgue while families retrieved others for burial. Final casualty figures remain unclear. Some local sources estimate that more than 70 people may have died, while others claim the number could exceed 100, as rescue efforts continue. The Mulondo mine, located about 42 kilometres from Kolwezi, is known for extensive artisanal mining carried out without proper safety measures. Witnesses say the collapse happened after unlicensed miners climbed unstable mounds of earth while fleeing gunfire from security guards protecting the site. Authorities say investigations are underway into both the mine collapse and the aircraft malfunction as emergency teams continue recovery operations in the region.

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