Another Plane Crashes in Congo
Thursday, September 4th, 2008
***Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele – Air Serv Plane at Ndolo Airport
Air travel is no longer the luxury it used to be. Sluggish security checks, long preflight waiting time and ever-changing requirements make frequent travelers wish for a better alternative. Nowhere in the world, however, do I dread flying more than in my native Congo.
On September 2, a small carrier operated by Air Serv International, a Virginia-based company, crashed in eastern Congo, killing all 17 passengers and crewmembers. Another plane, operated by Kinshasa-based Hewa Bora, crashed in the same area five months ago. It seems that every quarter a plane crashes in Congo.
I was born and grew up in Congo. And during my years living there, I only recall a handful of crashes. They were mostly military aircrafts. Back then a plane crash was an extraordinary event – one that rarely happened. I remember them as vividly as the few eclipses I have witnessed in my lifetime. Today, crashes are common occurrences.