A chartered Embraer ERJ-145LR aircraft carrying Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba and about 20 other officials caught fire after skidding off the runway during landing at Kolwezi Airport in Lualaba Province on November 17, 2025. The plane, operated by Airjet Angola, was flying from Kinshasa when it ran off runway 29, sparking a fire at the tail section. Miraculously, all passengers, including Minister Kabamba, evacuated safely with no injuries or fatalities reported.

The minister and his delegation were traveling to assess the aftermath of a tragic mining accident at the Kalondo mine, where 32 people were killed. An investigation into the incident is underway, with authorities examining possible causes such as mechanical failure, pilot error, or runway conditions .
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