8 freighter leaves runway in Kinshasa
A vintage Douglas DC-8 freighter operated by Trans Air Cargo Service suffered a runway excursion at N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa. No fatalities were reported, but the aircraft sustained significant damage, potentially ending the career of one of the last operational DC-8s.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the risks associated with operating aging aviation equipment and has triggered an official investigation by Congolese authorities.
One of the world’s last operational Douglas DC-8s suffered serious damage after overrunning the runway while landing in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on September 8, 2026.
The DC-8-73CF freighter, registered 9S-AJO and operated by Trans Air Cargo Service, veered left off Runway 24 at N’Djili International Airport (FIH). The aircraft came to rest on soft ground with its nose landing gear collapsed.
Images and video from the airport show the four-engine jet resting nose-down in the grass beside the runway. The extent of the damage has not been confirmed, and it is unclear whether the aircraft can be repaired.
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No fatalities were reported.
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