Fifth Fatal Plane Crash In Nine Months

Officials say there are only six known survivors, out of 85 persons onboard a DC-9 that crashed on takeoff Tuesday in eastern Congo.

The Associated Press reports the airliner, operated by private airline Hewa Bora, failed to gain altitude on takeoff from Goma, and impacted a residential area adjacent to the airport. At least 60 persons on the ground were injured in the crash, and there are reports of several deaths as well.

"We are preoccupied with trying to save as many survivors as possible," said Gauthier Iloko, the adjunct commander of the Goma airport. "It's difficult to give a number, but there are already at least 10 survivors that were pulled out of the wreck and who were sent to the hospital."

The airliner was heading to the Congolese capital city of Kinshasa.

"Smoke was rising from the plane," said Christian Kilundu, a spokesman for the Goma office of international aid group World Vision. "As fire extinguishers were trying to put out the flames, I spoke to a priest who had been pulled from the wreckage. He was disorientated and had no idea what had happened."

One survivor, who identified himself as a pilot, theorized the jet experienced problems with one of its landing gear tires, contributing to the jet's inability to gain altitude on takeoff.

Agence-France Presse reports Tuesday's accident is the fifth fatal airline crash in the war-torn country since June 2007. The fatal crash comes just days after the European Union added Hewa Bora, one of the largest airlines in Congo, to its "blacklist" of airlines banned from operating in the EU.

FMI: www.hba.cd/