A Services Air Airbus A310-300, registration 9Q-CVH performing a cargo flight from Lubumbashi to Mbuji-Mayi (DR Congo) with 4 crew, landed on Mbuji-Mayi's runway 17 but overran the end of the runway by about 500 meters and ploughed through a residential area destroying a number of buildings. 7 people on the ground were killed, the crew sustained no injuries, the damage to the aircraft is being assessed but visually appears minor.

Witnesses reported the crew had already attempted and aborted two approaches, on the third approach the aircraft touched down about half way down the runway and was unable to stop before the end of the runway and came to a stop on soft ground about 500 meters/1650 feet past the runway end.

The provincial governor reported there were 7 fatalities on the ground.

No weather data (neither METAR nor local weather station data) are available. Local media described the weather at the time of the accident as rainy with visibility near zero.

Mbuji-Mayi Airport features a runway 17/35 of 2000 meters/6560 feet length.

Mbuji-Mayi had been known for poor runway surface conditions at the latest since Aug 19th 2015, see Accident: Brussels B733 at Mbuji-Mayi on Aug. 19, 2015, stabilizer damaged by dislodged runway pavement. Congo Airways ceased operations into Mbuji-Mayi due to runway surface conditions about two weeks ago.