Three-day mourning in Congo for plane crash victims | Irish Sun

Three-day mourning in Congo for plane crash victims

Irish Sun (IANS) Saturday 9th July, 2011

The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced a three-day national mourning for the Friday plane crash in which at least 127 people were reportedly killed.

Government spokesperson Lambert Mende, in a television address, said that a national mourning will be held in remembrance of the victims of the crash, Xinhua reported.

DR Congo's transport ministry was quoted in reports as saying that the toll reached 127, with 51 people surviving the tragedy. It said the number of people onboard had been underestimated.

M. Stavros, general director of the Hewa Bora Airways which operated the crashed aircraft, however, said that at least 72 people have died so far in the tragedy.

Inclement weather was blamed for the plane crash. It was not immediately clear how many people were on board the plane.

The Hewa Bora Airways, which operated the aircraft, was banned from flying into Europe due to safety concerns, said RIA Novosti.

The airline said that its Boeing 727 aircraft crashed near the Kisangani airport after the pilot tried to land it in a stormy weather.