2008 Woodie Awards
Congo plane crashes at end of runway with 85 aboard
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: World
GOMA, Congo - A Congolese jetliner carrying around 85 people failed to take off yesterday from an airport in this eastern town, crashing at high speed into a busy market neighborhood at the end of the runway, officials said.
Government officials initially said there were only six known survivors but later in the day an airline official said 60 people had survived. Local officials said dozens of bodies were pulled from the wreckage, though it was unclear if they had been passengers.
The plane was operated by the private Congolese company, Hewa Bora, and was headed to the central city of Kisangani, then the capital, Kinshasa. Hewa Bora's Dirk Cramers said 53 passengers and seven crew were taken from the site and were at local hospitals.
Earlier, conflicting accounts said the plane crashed just after takeoff.
Government officials initially said there were only six known survivors but later in the day an airline official said 60 people had survived. Local officials said dozens of bodies were pulled from the wreckage, though it was unclear if they had been passengers.
The plane was operated by the private Congolese company, Hewa Bora, and was headed to the central city of Kisangani, then the capital, Kinshasa. Hewa Bora's Dirk Cramers said 53 passengers and seven crew were taken from the site and were at local hospitals.
Earlier, conflicting accounts said the plane crashed just after takeoff.
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