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Official: UN plane crash in Congo kills 26

05 April 2011 04:42 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. A top Congolese aviation official says that 26 people aboard a U.N. plane have died in a crash in Congo, APA reports quoting â€œAssociated Pressâ€.
U.N. staff members were on the plane, including peacekeepers. The cause of the crash upon landing in the capital was not immediately known.
The top official says that six other people were hurt in the crash Monday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to press, says that 32 people were on the small passenger plane flying from Kinsangani to Kinshasa.
The U.N. mission in Congo includes more than 19,000 uniformed peacekeeping troops. The mission is charged with protecting civilians in the conflict-torn country.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) â€” A small passenger plane carrying U.N. staff members crashed Monday in Congo and broke into pieces, killing at least 10 people aboard, United Nations officials said.
A U.N. peacekeeping source speaking on condition of anonymity in New York said that the death toll could rise. He said the plane was carrying an assortment of U.N. staff, including peacekeepers.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known.
The U.N. mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, includes more than 19,000 uniformed peacekeeping troops. The mission is charged with protecting civilians in the conflict-torn country from violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.