2025 Air Kasaï Antonov An-2 crash
.jpg) An Antonov An-2 similar to the one involved | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | August 16, 2025 |
| Summary | Crashed en route; under investigation |
| Site | Batshepo, c.34 kilometres from Kisangani, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Total fatalities | 7 |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Antonov An-2R |
| Operator | Air Kasaï |
| Registration | 9S-GZP |
| Flight origin | Lubutu Airport |
| Destination | Kisangani Bangoka International Airport |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Passengers | 4 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On August 16, 2025, an Antonov An-2 operated by Air Kasaï crashed in a wooded area while on a ferry flight near Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing all seven occupants.
Background
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a 39-year-old Shvetsov ASh-62 engined Antonov An-2R. In July 2005, the aircraft was sold from Russia to Cuba before arriving in Congo.[1] The plane was sold to a new operator being in the process of certification.[2]
Passengers and crew
The occupants of the plane consisted of a Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo officer, his wife and their bodyguard, a flight engineer, two pilots and another person.[3] The pilot was identified as 64-year-old Ukrainian national Stepankov Yuriy. Both pilots were Ukrainians.[4]
Accident
The plane lost contact with air traffic control and crashed into a tree in a dense wooded area in the village of Batshepo near Kisangani while en route from Lubutu Airport to Kisangani Bangoka International Airport for a technical inspection by the Authority to officially authorize the operation of the aircraft in accordance with the regulations in force after being stored for several months.[4][5] A post-crash fire ensued, burning the plane and nearby trees.[6] Local media reported one of the seven on board survived with critical injuries, while the accident investigation body BPEA reported all on board had died.[7]
Reactions
Authorities and the operating company expressed deep condolences to the victim's families.[8]
Investigation
A team of judicial police officers and accident investigation body BPEA are investigating the crash.[9][7] National authorities, assisted by the army, secured the crash site while awaiting the initial findings of the technical investigation. The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) is expected to prepare an official report.[10]
References
- ^ "Фотография самолёта · Антонов · Ан-2ТП · 9S-GZP (зав.н. 1Г221-44) · Air Kasai ✈ russianplanes.net ✈ наша авиация" [Photo of the aircraft · Antonov · An-2TP · 9S-GZP (plant no. 1G221-44) · Air Kasai ✈ russianplanes.net ✈ our aviation] (in Russian). russianplanes.net. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ "Accident Antonov An-2R 9S-GZP, Saturday 16 August 2025". Aviation Safety Network. 16 August 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ "Crash d'avion à Kisangani : un officier des FARDC et deux expatriés parmi les six victimes" [Plane crash in Kisangani: FARDC officer and two expatriates among the six victims] (in French). kis24.info. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "Crash d'un avion à Kisangani : deux Ukrainiens parmi les morts" [Plane crash in Kisangani: two Ukrainians among the dead] (in French). kis24.info. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ "Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Kisangani: 7 killed". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ "Kisangani – Crash mystérieux: un avion privé s'écrase en pleine forêt sur la RN4, un seul survivant évacué" [KISANGANI-Mysterious crash: a private plane crashes in the middle of the forest on the RN4, only one survivor evacuated] (in French). kis24.info. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "*Crash D'Avion Près de Kisangani*" [*Plane Crash Near Kisangani*]. BPEA (in French). August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Tragic Antonov An-2 crash near Kisangani, DRCongo, claims all lives onboard". Aviation24.be. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ "Crash d'avion près de Kisangani : le pilote était Ukrainien, son passeport retrouvé au lieu du drame" [Plane crash near Kisangani: the pilot was Ukrainian, his passport found at the scene of the tragedy] (in French). Actualite.cd. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
- ^ "Crash d'un avion en RDC: six morts et un survivant" [Plane crash in DRC: six dead and one survivor] (in French). La Nouvelle Tribune. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.