A Congolese military aircraft crashed in southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 17 people, including two senior generals, authorities said.
The plane was flying Friday afternoon from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it reportedly developed a technical problem and tried to land in Kenge, Kwango Province.
Officials raised the death toll from an initial estimate of 13 after emergency crews extinguished the fire at the crash site and recovered more bodies.
Kwango Deputy Gov. Rémy Saki told journalists that rescuers had found the remains of 16 adults and one baby, bringing the confirmed number of fatalities to 17.
The Congolese army identified two of the victims as Lt. Gen. Joseph Mutombo, the first president of the High Military Court, and Lt. Gen. Lucien-René Likulia, the military’s auditor general. The generals were reportedly traveling on official business.
President Félix Tshisekedi said he had ordered the appropriate authorities to carry out a full investigation to determine what happened and identify the cause of the crash.
Tshisekedi also offered condolences to the victims’ relatives and to members of the nation’s security forces.
The crash occurred as the DRC confronts persistent security threats, especially in the east, where government forces continue to battle armed groups.
The mineral-rich country has endured decades of conflict, with rival armed factions vying for territory and control of valuable resources.
Authorities are expected to provide more information as the investigation proceeds, according to The Associated Press.
