DR Congo Mines Minister and delegation escape after Embraer ERJ-145LR overruns runway at Kolwezi Airport

A government aircraft carrying Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba and a 20-member delegation crash-landed at Kolwezi Airport on Monday, overrunning the runway before catching fire. All passengers and crew evacuated safely, and no injuries or fatalities were reported.

The delegation had been travelling from Kinshasa to Lualaba province for official duties linked to the region’s strategic mining operations. The incident occurred just hours after the minister visited the site of a deadly mine collapse that claimed 49 lives.

According to Isaac Nyembo, the minister’s communications advisor, the aircraft “ran off the runway during landing at Kolwezi Airport,” after which “the aircraft caught fire.” Images circulating on social media show flames and smoke rising from the rear fuselage as emergency responders attempted to contain the blaze.

Local sources on social media reported that the aircraft involved was an Embraer ERJ-145LR, registered D2-AJB, although no official confirmation has been released by authorities.