Cargo DC-8 overruns runway in Kinshasa
In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a Douglas DC-8-73CF cargo aircraft overran the runway during landing on September 8, 2026. The aircraft, registered 9S-AJO and operated by Trans Air Cargo Service, veered left off runway 24 at N'djili International Airport. As AeroTime reports, there were no fatalities as a result of the accident.
The aircraft ended up on soft ground near the runway
After leaving the runway, the four-engine aircraft came to a stop on soft ground. Its nose landing gear collapsed. Photos and videos from the airport show the DC-8 with its nose lowered onto the grass beside the runway.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the extent of damage to the aircraft. It is also unknown whether it can be repaired.
Accident investigation
The Permanent Bureau of Investigation of Aviation Accidents and Incidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo classified the event as an accident and sent investigators to the airport. The agency called for the aircraft and other evidence to be preserved until investigators inspect the scene.
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The circumstances that led to the aircraft leaving the runway have not yet been established. Limited visibility due to haze was recorded in the Kinshasa area at the time of the accident, but investigators have not said whether the weather affected the event.
One of the last commercial DC-8s
The approximately 56-year-old aircraft was one of the few DC-8s still operating commercial flights. According to fleet databases, 9S-AJO was the only active aircraft of Trans Air Cargo Service.
This aircraft was originally built as a Super 60 series DC-8-63 and was later converted to the DC-8-73 standard with quieter and more fuel-efficient CFM56 turbofan engines. Douglas and McDonnell Douglas produced a total of 556 DC-8 aircraft before production ended in 1972.
