Tracep Congo Aviation’s Let L-410 UVP Turbolet crashed near Kenge in western Democratic Republic of the Congo on 25 September, killing all 17 people aboard and prompting the suspension of the carrier’s air operator certificate. The aircraft, registered 9S-GUC, was flying from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it reported technical problems and went down after circling in search of a landing site.
The crash site was in or near a residential compound in Kenge, where the aircraft caught fire after impact. Authorities initially put the death toll at 13 before updating the manifest and confirming that 17 people had died. The victims included senior military justice officials and General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, making the accident a major blow to the country’s military establishment.
The transport ministry grounded Tracep Congo Aviation’s aircraft nationwide pending an investigation. The cause has not been established, although early reports pointed to a technical failure.