1996 Air Africa Antonov An-32 crash
RA-26222, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 1994 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 January 1996 |
| Summary | Runway overrun after failed takeoff |
| Site |
|
| Total fatalities | 227-350 |
| Total injuries | 504+ |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Antonov An-32B |
| Operator | Moscow Airways on behalf of Air Africa |
| Registration | RA-26222 |
| Flight origin | N'Dolo Airport |
| Destination | Kahemba Airport |
| Occupants | 6 |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Injuries | 4 |
| Survivors | 4 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 225-348 |
| Ground injuries | 500+ |
On 8 January 1996, a Moscow Airways Antonov An-32B operating on behalf of Air Africa overran the runway at N'Dolo Airport after attempting to take off overloaded. The aircraft was flying from Kinshasa to Kahemba, Zaire. The aircraft ploughed into Kinshasa's Simbazikita street market. Four of the six crew of the aircraft survived the accident. On the ground, however, it is estimated that there were between 225 and 348 fatalities, with more than 500 people injured. It was the deadliest aviation accident in African history until the 2018 Algerian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 crash, the deadliest to occur in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the deadliest accident in terms of ground fatalities, superseded only by the intentional crashes of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 in the September 11 attacks in 2001.