Airport officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reported 12 crewmembers died yesterday after an Antonov 12 military cargo aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Kinshasa’s Ndjili International Airport.

Local news media reported initially that at least 10 people were on the aircraft at 07.30h (local time) bound for Bukavu in eastern Congo when it crashed in Nasilah, about 100 metres from the centre of Kinshasa.

Airport officials are reported as saying the aircraft experienced a technical problem shortly after take-off and lost radio contact with the control tower. There were no passengers travelling at the time of the crash.

Reuters news agency reported that Congolese and foreigners are among the dead.

Air accidents happen more frequently in the Congo. All Congo commercial carriers are banned from operating services in the European Union.