Kinshasa, DRC: October 4, 2007 -  Several people are believed to be killed after a light cargo plane Antonov 26 crashed today at around 10.30am (10.30am BST) at around 10.30am (10.30am BST). into the centre of a crowded market near Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as per UN spokesman.

The exact figure of dead is not available, but believed to be quite higher, the rescue team has been sent by the UN including firefighters to the site of the crash, the airport officer Appo Ilunga confirmed.

The twin turboprop engine plane had just taken off from Kinshasa airport and was en route to central Congo. Kingasani is about 3 miles from the airport. The exact figure of passengers is also not known. (IR Summary).

As per Guardian Unlimited, one witness who lives near the market said the area was full of smoke and that the confusion was making it hard to determine the number of deaths.

Papy Kangufu said the market was full of people when the plane crashed.
Cargo planes in Congo are often flown by experienced pilots from former Soviet states, but the aircraft are generally old, poorly maintained and overcrowded. Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency reported that the plane had a Russian crew.

In August, the Congo government suspended the licences of a number of private local airlines as well as the national director of civil aviation after an Antonov 12, carrying 3 tonnes more than the recommended cargo capacity, crashed in the eastern region of Katanga, killing 14 people.

In 1996, an Antonov 32 turboprop plane crashed seconds after taking off from Kinshasa's main airport, skidding across a busy street and ploughing into a crowded market. The crash killed at least 300 people, making it one of the worst air crashes in Congo's history.