Plane misses runway in east Congo, landing in lava

[pmp6nl]

Plane misses runway in east Congo, landing in lava
By PATRICE CITERA, Associated Press Writer Patrice Citera, Associated Press Writer   – Thu Nov 19, 9:55 am ET

KINSHASA, Congo – A passenger plane overshot the runway Thursday, landing in hardened lava surrounding an airport in eastern Congo and injuring 20 people, a U.N.-run radio station reported.

The plane was flying from Kinshasa to Goma, and passengers had warned the crew that there were heavy clouds, Radio Okapi said.

An official from the U.N. mission in Congo, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he does not have permission to speak with media, said there were 117 passengers aboard. They included the governor of North Kivu province, who was not hurt.

The plane was operated by CAA (Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation).

A 2002 volcanic eruption sent lava oozing onto Goma's runway, truncating it from more than 2 miles (3 kilometers) to less than a mile (1.5 kilometers). Authorities have not removed all of the lava rock.

A cargo plane burst into flames after hitting hardened lava on the airport runway in 2007, killing at least eight.

And in April 2008, a DC-9 rammed into a bustling market after failing to lift off from Goma's airport, killing at least 40 people, most of them on the ground.

Congo has experienced more fatal plane crashes than any other African country since 1945, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

However, flying remains one of the more dependable ways to cross the vast country. The country, which is bigger than Western Europe, has only 300 miles (500 kilometers) of paved roads.

At least it was hot molten lava

[Sal Atticum]

At least nobody was hurt this time.

This really says something about how much some parts of Africa are hurting for things we take for granted.  It's been seven years, but there's still lava stuck to the runway.

[Plantains]

I'm sure theres more to this story, but realistically speaking... a runway with lava... thats like something out of super mario.

[pmp6nl]

It is sad that parts of the world do without what we have...

On the lighter side of things, I also immediately thought Super Mario.

[Plantains]

lol... more seriously tho... I would love to be giving that approach briefing. touchdown zone elevation is 300, airport elevation is 305, landing distance is 1800 and we'll have to do a short field approach and landing because otherwise we'll land in the lava.

Thats pro.

[pmp6nl]

haha