The aircraft, an Embraer ERJ-145LR regional jet operated by Air Katanga on a charter flight for the Ministry of Mines, had departed from Kinshasa's N'Djili International Airport earlier that morning, with a brief stopover in Lubumbashi before the final leg to Kolwezi in Lualaba Province. Eyewitness accounts and widely circulated videos captured the terrifying moments: As the plane touched down on runway 29, it appeared to skid uncontrollably, overshooting the 7,900-foot paved surface and coming to a halt in the adjacent dirt strip. Within seconds, flames erupted from the tail section, sending thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky as ground crew scrambled with hoses to douse the blaze.
Isaac Nyembo, the minister's communications advisor, provided the first official account to reporters gathered at the airport shortly after the evacuation. "The aircraft was flying from the capital, Kinshasa, when it ran off the runway during landing at Kolwezi airport in Lualaba province," Nyembo stated, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Moments later, the aircraft caught fire. We are a delegation of about 20 people accompanying the minerals minister. We all got out before the fire spread throughout the entire plane." Nyembo emphasized that no injuries were reported among the passengers or the three crew members, crediting the swift evacuation to the professionalism of the flight attendants and the rapid response from airport emergency teams. However, he noted that much of the delegation's luggage was destroyed in the inferno, complicating their immediate plans to proceed to the mine site.
The Ministry of Mines issued a formal statement later that afternoon from Kinshasa, confirming the safety of all involved and expressing gratitude to the aviation authorities. "Minister Kabamba and his team are unharmed and remain committed to supporting the affected communities in Lualaba Province," the statement read. It also announced that an investigation into the cause of the runway excursion has been launched by the Democratic Republic of Congo's Civil Aviation Authority, with preliminary reports suggesting possible factors such as wet runway conditions from recent heavy rains or issues with the aircraft's landing gear. Aviation experts have pointed to Kolwezi Airport's history of infrastructure challenges, including outdated runway markings and limited firefighting resources, as potential contributors. The airport, a critical hub for the mining industry in the copper belt, handles frequent charters but has long been criticized for inadequate maintenance amid the province's booming extractive economy.
This aviation mishap unfolded against the backdrop of profound tragedy at the Kalando mine, located roughly 42 kilometers from Kolwezi in the Mulondo area. On Saturday, November 15, a makeshift bridge—used by artisanal miners to access the site's copper and cobalt deposits—collapsed under the weight of an overcrowded group of workers, plunging at least 32 individuals into a swollen ravine below. Lualaba Provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde confirmed the death toll during a press conference on Sunday, describing the scene as "heart-wrenching," with bodies recovered "piled on top of each other" amid rushing waters exacerbated by seasonal floods. Rescue operations, involving local volunteers and military personnel, continued into Monday, with reports of up to 20 survivors hospitalized in critical condition and fears that the number of missing could push the total fatalities higher—some government sources estimate as many as 49 deaths.
Witnesses attributed the collapse to a deadly confluence of factors: Gunfire from soldiers attempting to enforce a mining ban—imposed due to heavy rains and landslide risks—sparked panic among hundreds of informal diggers who had illegally entered the site operated by the company Pajeclem. The rush to flee across the overloaded bridge, constructed hastily from wooden planks and ropes, proved fatal. "The structure was never meant for so many people at once," said one survivor, speaking to local radio from a Kolwezi hospital bed. "We were just trying to get our daily earnings before the site closed." Videos circulating on social media showed the chaotic aftermath: rescuers wading through mud and debris, pulling limp forms from the water, while grieving families gathered at the site, demanding accountability from mine operators and provincial authorities.
The Kalando incident is emblematic of deeper systemic issues plaguing the Democratic Republic of Congo's artisanal mining sector, which employs an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people—many in precarious, unregulated conditions—and fuels up to 30% of the global cobalt supply, essential for electric vehicle batteries and electronics. Despite producing over 70% of the world's cobalt, the DRC grapples with chronic safety lapses, including dilapidated infrastructure, lax enforcement of regulations, and tensions between state forces, private firms, and informal miners. This year alone has seen multiple fatal accidents: A tunnel collapse in North Kivu in June killed 18, while flooding at a gold mine near Kamituga in September claimed 25 lives. Human rights groups have long criticized the sector for exploiting vulnerable workers, often children, amid armed conflicts and corruption that siphon revenues away from communities.
Minister Kabamba's visit was intended to launch an on-site probe into the Kalando disaster, including structural audits and support for bereaved families. "We must address the root causes—illegal access, poor engineering, and climate vulnerabilities—to prevent future losses," Kabamba said in a pre-flight briefing in Kinshasa, according to ministry aides. Post-crash, the delegation, now relying on ground transport, arrived at the mine by late afternoon. Preliminary findings point to the bridge's inadequate load-bearing capacity and the role of recent torrential rains, which have swollen rivers across Lualaba and heightened landslide risks. Provincial authorities have suspended operations at Kalando indefinitely, relocating hundreds of miners to safer sites and distributing emergency aid, including food and medical supplies, to affected households.
The dual crises have drawn international attention, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pledging $500,000 in aid for Lualaba's mining communities. European Union representatives, major buyers of DRC minerals, called for stricter compliance with the bloc's upcoming supply chain due diligence laws, aimed at curbing human rights abuses in cobalt sourcing. Meanwhile, local civil society groups in Kolwezi rallied outside the airport, chanting for improved aviation safety and mining reforms. "These aren't isolated tragedies—they're symptoms of neglect in a province built on our sweat and blood," said activist Marie Kabila, whose brother perished in a similar incident last year.
As investigations proceed, the events in Kolwezi serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the DRC's mineral wealth. With global demand for cobalt surging amid the green energy transition, pressure mounts on Kinshasa to balance economic gains with worker protections. For now, Minister Kabamba's survival offers a sliver of relief, but the road ahead—potholed by grief and peril—remains fraught. Rescue teams at Kalando toil on, sifting through wreckage for closure, while aviation officials examine flight data, hoping to avert the next close call.
