At least 18 people killed in eastern DR Congo plane crash

The bodies of at least 18 people killed in a plane crash on Sunday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been pulled from the wreckage, rescue workers said. The passenger jet crashed into a residential neighbourhood in the city of Goma while taking off from the nearby airport.

The airline, local company Busy Bee, said there were 16 passengers and two crew members on board.

The plane crashed during takeoff for a flight to the city of Beni, North Kivu Governor Carly Nzanzu Kasivita’s office said in a statement. Air accidents are relatively frequent in Congo because of lax safety standards and poor maintenance.

All Congolese commercial carriers, including Busy Bee, are banned from operating in the European Union.

A cargo plane departing from the same airport crashed an hour after take-off in October, killing all eight passengers.