Aid Plane Crashes in Congo

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that an airplane with 17 passengers on board on a humanitarian mission has crashed in Congo.

The United Nations says a plane operated under contract to U.S.-based Air Serv International.carrying 17 people on a humanitarian aid flight when it crashed in Congo. The aircraft was operated by a third party under contract to Air Serv International in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and was en route from Kisangani to Bukavu. The plane failed to land at its scheduled arrival time Monday afternoon, September 1, 2008. Search and rescue efforts were initiated and visual confirmation of the downed aircraft was made at 06:10z. The aircraft has been found on a steep ridge eight miles northwest of Bukavu. The aircraft was piloted by two crew members and carried 15 passengers. Aerial survey by helicopter indicate that there are no known survivors.