Wed, Apr 06, 2011
More Than 30 Fatally Injured When Aircraft Apparently Missed
The Runway
Only one person out of 33 passengers and crew members survived
when a United Nations plane went down Monday at the main airport in
the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The
plane, which had been travelling from the north-eastern city of
Kisangani, was attempting to land in heavy rain at N’Djili
airport in Kinshasa when it crashed about 1330 local time after
missing the runway.
N'Djili Airport File Photo
Alain Le Roy, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations, told journalists that initial indications were that bad
weather was a key factor in the accident.
The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) reported that
the plane was carrying 29 passengers and four crew members. All but
five of the passengers worked for the UN, with the others working
for international organizations or non-governmental organizations
(NGOs). Most of the UN staff on board worked for MONUSCO but some
were serving with UN agencies.
Ambassador Néstor Osorio of Colombia, which holds the
rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, said the
Council’s 15 members expressed their “profound
sorrow.” He offered his deepest condolences to the families
of the victims.
MONUSCO has set up a task force in the wake of the crash to lead
the investigation and determine what follow-up actions are needed.
Counsellors are being provided for affected staff and a hotline is
also being established for the families and friends of the crash
victims.
The peacekeeping mission said the names of the victims will be
released after their bodies have been positively identified and the
next of kin informed.
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