Plane crashes in Congo

A cargo plane crashed into a market in Congo's capital Kinshasa today.

An airport spokesman said the Russian-built twin-engined Antonov 26 jet crashed into a residential area of the Kingasani district.

There were no details of deaths or injuries.

It was reported that the crew were Russian.

Cargo planes in Congo are often flown by experienced pilots from former Soviet states, but the aircraft are usually old, ill-maintained and overcrowded.

In 1996, an Antonov 32 turboprop crashed seconds after takeoff from Kinshasa's airport, skidding across a busy street and ploughing into a crowded open-air market, killing at least 300 people.

The country's deeply impoverished people are forced to rely on unsafe boats and planes to move around the country which has few passable roads after decades of war and corrupt rule.