A plane carrying DRC Minister of Mines Louis Watum was damaged by fire after landing at Kolwezi Airport on Monday, November 17, 2025, during an emergency mission to Mulondo in Lualaba Province.
According to airport officials, a technical failure in the aircraft’s landing gear sparked the fire. Emergency crews responded immediately, extinguishing the flames and safely evacuating all passengers. No injuries were reported, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Minister Watum and his delegation were en route to assess last week’s mining tragedy in Mulondo, meet provincial authorities, and inspect affected artisanal mining zones. The mission aims to propose urgent safety interventions to protect miners and prevent further incidents.
Kolwezi Airport has launched a technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the malfunction. The Ministry of Mines says the mission will proceed as planned, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving mining safety and emergency response across the DRC.
