2003 Ukrainian Cargo Airways Ilyushin Il-76 accident

Ukrainian Cargo Airways

Company type	State-owned charter airline
Industry	Aviation
Headquarters	Kyiv , Ukraine

On 8 May 2003, a Ukrainian Cargo Airways-operated Ilyushin Il-76MD encountered an explosive decompression after its cargo door unexpectedly opened during flight over Mbuji-Mayi. The aircraft was on a civilian transport mission from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi. Estimates of fatalities vary significantly, ranging from a minimum of 17 to as many as 200. Official figures from the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government confirmed seventeen deaths, while other authorities suggested numbers between 60 and 129, with some survivors claiming up to 200 casualties among more than 160 occupants onboard.

Accident

The event took place at night on 8 May 2003 above Mbuji-Mayi. The plane, an Ilyushin Il-76 registered UR-UCB, was operated by Ukrainian Cargo Airways, a state-owned charter airline headquartered in Kyiv. This two-hour military-chartered flight was tasked with transporting soldiers and their families to Lubumbashi, a city in the southern Haut-Katanga Province that houses a significant Congolese military base. The cargo hold was densely packed with passengers, many resting near the central section and adjacent to the cargo door. Seating arrangements were inadequate; only folding chairs were available, and passengers were crowded onto benches and the floor.

Approximately 45 minutes after departing Kinshasa and cruising at about 10,000 feet (3,000 m), the cargo door suddenly swung open, resulting in numerous passengers being expelled from the aircraft. Some individuals managed to cling onto ropes, bags, and netting affixed to the interior walls. Survivors recounted a chaotic atmosphere marked by screams and people being drawn out through the open door. Those who had been asleep were abruptly awakened by the commotion. Witnesses reported that the aircraft abruptly rocked side to side, which contributed to additional passengers being forced out. Several who had held onto ropes lost their grip and fell to their deaths. A truck secured within the cargo area may have acted as a protective barrier, preventing further loss of life.

One survivor recalled gripping a ladder beside the door just before it gave way. Another described witnessing a soldier holding a baby and a mother with an infant being violently pulled into the darkness outside.

Despite the damage, the aircraft was able to return safely to Kinshasa. Following the incident, Congolese authorities initiated an immediate search for those who had been expelled mid-flight. Survivors stated that many individuals remained missing and estimated fatalities could be as high as 200, including women and children. Contrarily, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian defence ministry claimed there were no injuries. However, survivors reported numerous injuries caused by flying cargo and baggage. At least two pregnant women suffered miscarriages due to shock from the event. Official death tolls confirmed by government sources stood at seventeen; other officials suggested up to sixty fatalities, while airport personnel estimated as many as 129 deaths. Aviation experts and Western diplomats in Congo believed that at least 170 people perished. Of over 160 passengers in the cargo area, only about forty percent returned after landing. Airport sources informed media that solely the crew survived without harm.

Investigation

Following the catastrophe, an inquiry was promptly initiated. The Information Minister, Kikaya Bin Karubi, informed Reuters that both the Congolese Air Force and the Army were conducting investigations to ascertain whether the cause was attributable to pilot error or a mechanical malfunction. According to Sergeant Kabmba Kashala, the aircraft departed with its door not securely latched, and after three unsuccessful attempts to close it completely during flight, the door suddenly opened. The pilot proposed that the door might have opened either due to a passenger interfering with its controls or as a result of a computer malfunction. He mentioned that someone on board could have been "pressing the button for special opening device".

External links

• Accident Description, Aviation Safety Network