►► CONGO (KINSHASA): CAA Fokker 50 crashes on approach into Goma; 6 dead.

Congo's Radio Okapi is reporting that a Fokker 50 (MSN 20270 | 9Q-CBD) belonging to CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (FPY) crashed into a residential area at 17h44L on Monday afternoon while landing in bad weather at Goma International Airport, North Kivu Province in the eastern DRC. CAA operates four Fokker 50s.

CAA Fokker 50 Flight Route (GreatCircleMapper)

The CAA Fokker 50 9Q-CBD in Kinshasa in 2011.(l8rmt)

The crashed aircraft (Mwangaza)

(provincenordkivu)

(provincenordkivu)

(provincenordkivu)

The aircraft was arriving from  Kananga via Lodja, Kasai-Oriental Province with  3 passengers, 6 crew and freight on board when it hit power lines and trees on finals before reaching the runway. Preliminary reports state that the aircraft was completely destroyed with five bodies retrieved from the wreckage so far. Three survivors have been taken to local hospitals. One other person (whether crew or passenger is not yet known) died of their injuries after the crash.

The plane crashed in the centre of Goma while on approach to runway 36, near the electoral commission's building, but it did not hit any people on the ground, the city's mayor Naasson Kubuya told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

An investigation has been launched by the Congolese Government, with a full recertification of all airlines now underway, according to Congolese Minister of Transport, Justin Kalumba.

CAA officials refused to answer any questions from the press, preferring instead to wait for the outcome of the investigation.

Thanks to Bigogwe Masaka.