Trans Air Cargo DC-8 freighter crashes in Kinshasa
A rare DC-8-73CF freighter overran the runway at Kinshasa's N'Djili International Airport on September 8, 2026, collapsing its nose gear.
A Trans Air Cargo Service DC-8 freighter has been seriously damaged in a runway accident at Kinshasa's N'Djili International Airport. The DC-8-73CF, registered 9S-AJO, overran the runway while landing on September 8, 2026.
The aircraft veered left off Runway 24 and came to a stop on soft ground. Its nose landing gear collapsed. Images from the scene show the four-engine jet resting nose-down in the grass beside the pavement. No fatalities were reported.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Bureau Permanent d’Enquêtes d’Accidents et Incidents d’Aviation (BPEA) has classified the event as an accident. Investigators were dispatched to the airport. The agency called for the aircraft and other evidence to be preserved for examination.
Investigation and Circumstances
The exact cause of the runway excursion remains unclear. Weather reports for the Kinshasa area at the time indicated reduced visibility with mist. Investigators have not stated whether weather was a factor.
The aircraft's damage has not been fully confirmed. It is unclear if the 56-year-old freighter can be repaired.
A Rare Aircraft
This accident is notable due to the aircraft's rarity. The DC-8 involved, 9S-AJO, was among the last of its type still in commercial service. Fleet databases indicated it was Trans Air Cargo Service's only active aircraft.
The jet has a long history. It was originally built as a DC-8-63, part of the stretched “Super 60” series. It was later converted to the DC-8-73 standard. This conversion involved fitting quieter and more fuel-efficient CFM56 turbofan engines.
The Diminishing DC-8 Fleet
Only a small number of DC-8s remained operational worldwide before this accident. Another example, a DC-8-73 freighter registered OB-2231P, has been operated by Peru-based Skybus Jet Cargo.
The DC-8 was developed by Douglas as a competitor to the Boeing 707. It entered airline service with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in 1959. Production of the 556 airframes built ended in 1972.
The type vanished from scheduled passenger service decades ago. However, several re-engined examples found continued use as freighters, research aircraft, and humanitarian transports. NASA retired its DC-8 flying laboratory in 2024. The charity Samaritan’s Purse retired the last US-registered operational DC-8 in 2025.
