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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Plane Crashes

On Tuesday, April 15, a McDonald Douglass DC-9 crashed into a market district in the city of Goma. At least 21 people were killed in the crash - far less than the initial 79 reported fatalities - but all 21 are believed to be killed on the ground when the jet failed to lift off.

The Congo has one of the world's worst air safety records - the worst offender in the air accident rate in Africa which is six times worse than the rest of the world. The European Commission has banned all operations of Hewa Bora Airways due to concerns over the carrier's safety standards. The airlines was allowed to operate a single aircraft under special arrangements, but this has been withdrawn. Hewa Bora joins eight other airlines fully banned in the European Union.
Hewa Bora airlines was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Barumba, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.