Overview
- The military aircraft attempted an emergency landing in Kenge after a reported technical problem and crashed into a residential plot, killing everyone on board.
- The Congolese military confirmed the deaths of Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende and Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, two senior figures in the military justice system.
- The military flight, which crashed on Friday, September 25, 2026, was returning from Kikwit to Kinshasa with a delegation and crew on board.
- Casualty figures have varied in early reports with most outlets citing 13–14 dead and some local accounts later reporting up to 17 as recovery and identification continued.
- The DRC’s aviation accident investigation authority and the armed forces have launched inquiries that will examine the wreckage, maintenance logs, and flight records while authorities secure the site.