A Boeing 737-200, during a test flight after being parked for almost ten years, has crashed after a problem with landing gear, killing all seven pilots and engineers on board. It belonged to General Kikunda, who had been air force commander during Mobutu Sese Seko's presidency (1965 - 1997) when the country was named Zaire. Kikunda, who was also the former head of the state aviation administration, was not on board at the time of the accident. Reports said the flightcrew, which included a number of aero-engineers, had battled in vain to safely land the stricken aircraft.

This aircraft has been parked at Kinshasa airport for since 1997. Very sad news.

Da Airliners.net