DAKAR (AA): At least 23 people lost their lives after a private jet crashedin a residential area in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local newsreported on Sunday.
According to reports, a Dornier-228 private jet of local travel firm BusyBee fell shortly after takeoff, crashing into houses in the city of Goma.
Company officials said there were a total of 19 people aboard, two of whomwere pilots.
Joseph Makundi, head of Civil Aviation Protection, said officials retrieveda total of 23 bodies around the crash site.
Carly Nzanzu Kasivita, governor of North Kivu state, noted that the planeleft the port with delay.
The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic ofCongo (MONUSCO) has dispatched rescue teams and fire brigade trucks to thearea.
Company officials stated that the plane may have crashed due to technicalissues.