Plane crash in Congo

Please pray for the families that lost loved ones in the plane crash in the Democratic Republic of the CONGO. Although the crash did not occur in the area where our partners are located, they, too, are grieving the loss of fellow citizens. This is also an aircraft that is often used by our partners and international visitors.

Please pray for the families that lost loved ones in the plane crash in the Democratic Republic of the CONGO.  Although the crash did not occur in the area where our partners are located, they, too, are grieving the loss of fellow citizens.  This is also an aircraft that is often used by our partners and international visitors.  

In Prayer,
Sandra R. Gourdet
Executive, Africa Office

(CNN)  — A plane crashed Tuesday shortly after taking off from the Goma airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing 83 passengers and crew on board, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

The Hewa Bora Airways DC-9 was heading from the city of Goma in the eastern mountains to the central city of Kisangani when it plummeted into a neighborhood near the runway, spokesman Antoine Ghonda said.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, has a dismal aviation record. There have been at least 24 plane crashes in the past year, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

The airline is based in the capital of Kinshasa.