2002 Nyiragongo eruption
Initially built with a paved 3 km runway and a large terminal and apron, the airport has not recovered from the 2002 eruption of the volcano Nyiragongo, 14 km to the north. The airport no longer receives international flights except for freight operations run by relief agencies and the United Nations. A stream of fluid lava 200 m by 1000 m wide flowed onto the runway and through the city center as far as the lake shore, covering over the northern 1 km of the runway and isolating the terminal and apron which were only connected by taxiway to the northern end. The lava can easily be seen in satellite photographs, and aircraft can be seen using the 2 km southern section of the runway which is clear of lava. A temporary apron has been made at the side of the operational part of the runway.
A Douglas DC-8 was left stranded on the terminal apron, which is now used by military and relief helicopters.
2008 crash
On 15 April 2008, a Hewa Bora Airways DC-9 overshot the runway during an aborted takeoff and crashed into the marketplace immediately to the south of the airport, killing over 40 people.
Airlines and destinations
- Bravo Air Congo (Kisangani, Mbuji-Mayi)
- Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (Kinshasa, Kisangani)
- Hewa Bora Airways (Kinshasa, Kisangani)
- Kivu Air
- Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises (Kisangani)
- Wimbi Dira Airways (Kisangani)
References
External links
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Last updated on Sunday July 20, 2008 at 02:13:26 PDT (GMT -0700)
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