Rare DC-8 Freighter Runs Off Runway During Landing in Kinshasa

A rare Douglas DC-8 freighter operated by Trans Air Cargo Service (TACS) ran off the runway while landing at N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Tuesday.

The aircraft, registered 9S-AJO, is a DC-8-70/73 freighter and reportedly veered off the paved runway before coming to a stop on soft ground. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft’s nose landing gear collapsed, while the airframe sustained substantial damage.

No injuries have been reported among the crew or airport personnel.

The aircraft, believed to be approximately 55 years old, is among the very few Douglas DC-8 aircraft still operating in commercial cargo service worldwide. It has been operated by Trans Air Cargo Service for several years.

The Bureau Permanent d’Enquêtes d’Accidents et d’Incidents d’Aviation (BPEA), the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s aviation accident investigation authority, has dispatched investigators to the scene.

The exact circumstances that led to the runway excursion, including whether the aircraft overran the runway or veered off the paved surface during landing, remain under investigation. Authorities are also assessing the full extent of the damage.

Videos from the scene show the white DC-8 freighter resting on uneven, dusty ground alongside the runway, with airport personnel, emergency responders and a fire truck positioned nearby.