Busy Bee Congo Dornier 228-201 plane crash

The Dornier 228-201 operated by A Busy Bee Congo took off from Goma, DR Congo, for a passenger flight to Beni, DR Congo. 17 passengers and 2 crewmembers were onboard. The plane crashed seconds after takeoff from Goma airport in a densely populated area. All 19 occupants were killed in the crash. On ground, 7 persons perished and one was seriously.

After lift of from Goma’s runway, the Dornier 228 failed to climb out, contacted electrical wires at very low height and impacted houses located in the runway axis. The plane subsequently crashed in the Birere neighborhood south of the airport and burst into flames.

The Dornier Do 228 is a twin-turboprop utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH (later DASA Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier) from 1981 until 1998. The aircraft performances on short airfield are very good. It is also used on unprepared runway. Its maintenance is simple, and it does not require specific servitude on the ground. As a result, this aircraft is particularly suitable for missions in countries where the aeronautical infrastructure is sketchy or missing.