At Least Six Lost In Landing Accident

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 06.29.07 1310 EDT: At least six people were reported killed Thursday, when a TAAG Angolan Airlines Boeing 737-200 crashed on landing in the northern Angolan city of M'banza Congo, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Angola Press Agency (ANGOP) reports the plane lost control while making an emergency landing, and impacted a building. Weather conditions at the time of the accident weren't reported.

Reuters reports 78 passengers were onboard the flight from Luanda. Among those killed was a senior M'Banza Congo city official, and a Roman Catholic priest from Italy. Several injuries were also reported.

The accident occurred the same day the European Union added the carrier to its "blacklist" of international airlines banned from flying in the EU, due to safety concerns.

The TAAG fleet includes four 737-200s, four newer 737-700s and two 777-200ERs with a third on order. As ANN reported, the airline took delivery of five new planes in one day last November.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

FMI: www.angola.org, www.europa.eu