More information surrounding the Tracep Let L-410 plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo reveals that nearly 20 people could have perished in the resulting fire explosion following the accident.

At first, authorities in Congo said there were 10 people on the plane, but later on the number was increased to 12, then later on 14 and now new reports place the tentative manifest at 16 passengers … And counting!

However, observers point out that normally, in DR Congo, flights carry more than their seat capacities and sometimes even take live animals aboard.

Meanwhile more details are emerging following the crash of a TRACEP Let L-410 in the Kenge area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with people at the scene of the crash claiming the plane had more than 20 individuals on board when it hit a domestic compound, before erupting in flames.

But according to the Chairman of the Board of Régie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), the aircraft, registered 9S-GUC, was carrying 16 people, among them 12 passengers and four crew members.

There were reportedly no survivors.

The aircraft was based at Kinshasa-Ndolo Airport (FZAB/NLO) and reportedly departed on a domestic rotation, covering a return trip between Ndolo, Kikwit and Ilebo (two-way).

At Kikwit, five passengers reportedly disembarked.

The aircraft then continued to Ilebo, where passengers were picked up for the return journey.

It was during the subsequent operation that the aircraft reportedly malfunctioned and crashed in the Kenge area.

The cause of the accident remains unknown, and there is currently no verified evidence establishing whether mechanical failure, weather, operational factors or another circumstance contributed to the crash.

The aircraft involved was a 34-year-old Let L-410UVP, construction number 831110, manufactured in 1983.

Aviation records show that 9S-GUC had been operated by Goma Express since 2018 and had been photographed at Kinshasa-Ndolo as recently as 2025.

The latest information should therefore be treated as preliminary pending an official accident investigation.

Meanwhile the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Kinshasa has confirmed the deaths of senior army officials who perished in the disastrous place crash on Friday night.

The two army personnel, both Lieutenant Generals serving different positions, were killed alongside 14 or more other passengers and members of the aircraft crew.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) has released the names of the officers who were killed when the aircraft they were traveling on, crashed and burst into flames on a domestic compound in the Kenge area of DRC.

The FARDC has confirmed the deaths of the First President of the Military High Court, Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, and the Auditor General of the FARDC, Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi in the tragic Friday plane crash near Kenge.

According ​to the FARDC Major General​, Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa Efomi​, the two military officers were on a special army mission.

Their Let 410 aircraft, operated by Tracep Congo Aviation, went down while returning from the special official mission in Kikwit.

The Congolese army says 12 other delegation members and the crew also perished in the fire.

The plane pilot’s body was however discovered outside the plane, a few meters away, indicating that he could have possibly tried to jump from the aircraft when things went out of his control.