At least 23 killed in plane crash in DR Congo

GOMA, DR Congo -- At least 23 bodies found at the crash site of a plane in a peripheral area of Goma City, North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), officials dealing with the accident told Xinhua on Sunday.

The plane, operating by a local company Busy Bee, crashed into houses a few minutes after taking off from Goma airport for a flight to the city of Beni, according to the governor of North Kivu in eastern DR Congo.

No passengers survived, including the two crew members, according to Xinhua sources close to the governor's office of North Kivu province and Hospital General De Goma.

According to sources close to the company Busy Bee, a loud detonation of one of the engines was heard a few moments after the takeoff of the aircraft. The pilot was reportedly tried to return to his starting point.

Airport and UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO tried to extract the bodies of the victims trapped in the debris of the aircraft that was completely burned by the impact of the crash.

Busy Bee is one of the few local aviation companies serving the North and South Kivu province for many years. According to sources within the company, the engine of the plane that crashed had been changed and it was the first flight after the maintenance of the aircraft.

This airline company organizes scheduled flights in the northeastern part of the country, especially the city of Beni, Butembo and its peripherals.