All those on board an Embraer ERJ-145 carrying a government delegation to Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo have escaped after a landing accident which destroyed the regional jet.
The aircraft, with a delegation from the ministry of mines, had been arriving at around 11:00 local time on 17 November.
According to the ministry the aircraft had been chartered to transport minister of mines Louis Watum Kabamba and associates to Lualaba province, following a fatal accident at the Kalando mine on 15 November.
It states that the minister had travelled there to condole with those affected, assess the extent of losses and agree measures to support the local authorities.
The ministry says the aircraft was involved in an accident “during the landing phase” but adds that the minister and his “entire delegation on board the aircraft” are safe.
Video images circulating on social media, purporting to show the scene of the occurrence, indicate that the jet came to rest off the runway, on its fuselage underside, with the aft fuselage and engines on fire.
NOTAMs for Kolwezi dated 13 November state the threshold for runway 29 has been shifted by 1,000m owing to works, leaving 1,500m available.
Footage from a passenger capturing the approach suggests the aircraft, with flaps deployed, overflew the initial paved section but, several seconds later, then landed on rough ground adjacent to an apparent group of heavy construction machinery, before veering off.
Additional images capture several occupants evacuating the jet. The wing registration and fuselage markings indicate the aircraft is D2-AJB, from the fleet of Angolan operator Airjet.
According to the ministry, the emergency services mobilised to provide assistance to the passengers.
“It should be emphasised that this air incident in no way affects the determination of…the minister, who has already begun technical meetings with the relevant authorities regarding the mission to Kalando and the necessary measures to support the affected communities,” it adds.
