At least 14 people, including two senior military officials, were killed after a plane crashed in Congo while returning to the capital Kinshasa, the country’s military said on Friday.
The aircraft was flying back from Kikwit in the southwestern part of the country when it reportedly developed a technical problem. It later crashed in Kenge, killing everyone on board, according to local officials.
Two senior military officers among dead
The two officials killed in the crash were Lieutenant General Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, who headed the military court, and Lieutenant General Bakumi Likulia, auditor general of the armed forces.
Major General Efomi Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese military, confirmed the deaths in a statement.
"In addition to the two general officers, twelve members of the delegation and the crew members also lost their lives in this accident," Ekenge said.
The statement did not provide further details about the identities of the other people who died in the crash.
Investigation underway
Authorities have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Officials have not yet established what caused the aircraft to go down.
Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, Chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority, said the cause of the crash remains unknown.
The aircraft was travelling from Kikwit towards Kinshasa when the incident occurred in Kenge. Local officials said all those on board were killed.
Authorities are expected to examine the aircraft and other available evidence as part of the investigation into the accident.
Congo military battling rebels
The crash comes as the Congolese military continues to fight several armed groups in the country's eastern region.
Among them is the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which has carried out a series of attacks since last year and captured key cities in the east.
The conflict has created continued security challenges for the Congolese authorities, although the plane crash itself has not been linked to the fighting.
The investigation into Friday's accident is expected to establish whether the reported technical problem was responsible for the crash.