Congo grounds Antonov planes
09/10/2007 18:35  - (SA)  

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Brazzaville - Congo has banned domestic airlines from using Antonov planes to carry passengers, after one of the Soviet-era aircraft crashed in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing 50 people.

"For reasons of air safety, Antonov passenger aircraft are suspended from flying from Tuesday, October 9, 2007 in accordance with new regulations," the national aviation agency said in a statement.

Airlines using other planes were warned to add on extra flights.

When contacted, officials at the agency did not wish to give more details on the new regulation nor reveal the number of companies hit by the decision.

The Congolese government had officially banned Antonovs from flying last year, but the regulation was never enforced.

An Antonov-26 cargo plane crashed in Kinshasa, the capital of neighbouring DRC, killing 22 people on board and 28 on the ground.

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