Douglas DC-8 cargo plane veers off runway in Kinshasa

A Douglas DC-8-73CF cargo aircraft, operated by Trans Air Cargo Service, veered off the runway during landing at N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on September 8, 2026.

The aircraft, registered as 9S-AJO, came to rest on soft ground outside the paved surface, causing its nose landing gear to collapse. While the aircraft sustained significant damage, all four crew members on board survived without reported injuries or fatalities.

The incident is notable due to the rarity of the aircraft; the 56-year-old jet is among the last Douglas DC-8s still in commercial operation worldwide. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Bureau Permanent d’Enquêtes d’Accidents et Incidents d’Aviation (BPEA) has launched an investigation into the cause of the excursion. Investigators have requested that the scene and aircraft remain undisturbed to preserve evidence. While mist and reduced visibility were reported in the Kinshasa area at the time, the exact cause of the accident remains undetermined.