Incident Overview
Date: Friday 14 April 2000
Aircraft Type: Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III
Owner/operator: Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Registration Number: 9Q-CZZ
Location: Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) –
ÿ Congo (Democratic Republic)
Phase of Flight: Standing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: All aircraft listed ? Congo Army Caravelle, Government of Congo Boeing 707, two Canadair CL-44 planes, and an Antonov 28.All aircraft listed ? Congo Army Caravelle, Government of Congo Boeing 707, two Canadair CL-44 planes, and an Antonov 28.
Category: Other
A significant fire occurred at Kinshasa Airport, rapidly escalating into a devastating explosion involving a cargo of ammunition. This resulted in the deaths of approximately 109 people on the ground. Several aircraft, including a Congo Army Caravelle, a Government of Congo Boeing 707, two Canadair CL-44 planes, and an Antonov 28, sustained damage or destruction.A significant fire occurred at Kinshasa Airport, rapidly escalating into a devastating explosion involving a cargo of ammunition. This resulted in the deaths of approximately 109 people on the ground. Several aircraft, including a Congo Army Caravelle, a Government of Congo Boeing 707, two Canadair CL-44 planes, and an Antonov 28, sustained damage or destruction.
Description
A major fire erupted in a warehouse on the Kinshasa Airport and spread to a cargo of ammunition, causing several explosions. Some 109 people on the ground are said to have been killed. Several aircraft were damaged or destroyed in the fire. They included a Congo Army Caravelle (9Q-CZZ), a Government of Congo Boeing 707 (9Q-CGC), two Canadair CL-44 planes (3C-ZPO and TN-235) and an Antonov 28 (9Q-CZL).
Primary Cause
The fire’s rapid spread and subsequent explosion are likely caused by the combination of the cargo of ammunition stored in the warehouse and the ignition of the explosives.The fire’s rapid spread and subsequent explosion are likely caused by the combination of the cargo of ammunition stored in the warehouse and the ignition of the explosives.Share on:
