Congo governor says plane crashed southeast of capital, casualties unknown

Congo governor reports plane crash; no details

KINSHASA, Congo — A provincial governor says a plane has crashed southeast of Congo’s capital. There is no word on casualties or whether it is a cargo or passenger plane.

Gov. Richard Ndambu said the plane crashed about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Kinshasa in the province of Bandundu, on Wednesday.

Ndambu had few details. No airline name was given.

He said rescue workers were heading to the site and saw from afar a large plane “still burning.”

Air safety has long been a problem in Congo. There have been at least 20 fatal plane crashes since 1996. Most of the aircraft are aging planes from the former Soviet Union.