Tracep L410 near Kitshanga/Walikale on Jul 24th 2026, engine failure, missing aircraft located

Last Update: July 31, 2026 / 09:19:24 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 24, 2026

Classification
Accident

Airline
Tracep Aviation

Departure
Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo

Destination
Kasongo, Democratic Republic of Congo

Aircraft Registration
7Q-GMR

Aircraft Type
Let L-410 Turbolet

ICAO Type Designator
L410

A Tracep Aviation Let L-410, registration 7Q-GMR performing a flight from Beni to Kasongo (DR Congo) with 3 crew and 2 tons of cargo, had departed Beni at 12:11L (11:11Z) and was enroute about an hour into the flight when the crew reported to another aircraft they had lost of one of their engines (M601) and they were diverting to Walikale (about 150nm south of Beni). This was the last radio transmission received from the aircraft. The aircraft did not land in Walikale or any other aerodrome so far. The aircraft was found on or after Jul 26th 2026, the first officer died in the accident, two survivors were rescued on Jul 30th 2026.

DR Congo's BPEA stated based on initial reports the aircraft was about 10 minutes into the flight when the aircraft disappeared after having apparently lost an engine.The crew attempted to return to Beni. An ELT signal was received from the Kitshanga region (about 100nm south of Beni). A search and rescue operation is in progress.

On Jul 27th 2026 the airline reported the aircraft has been found near Buluko, about 17nm northwest of Kitshanga. The first officer survived the accident, the captain died however.

Starting Jul 26th 2026 aviation circles in DR Congo reported the aircraft has been located in the Kisimba region north of Kitshanga. These reports continue the captain of the flight managed to find the next village Buluko via the aircraft's portable GPS and made contact. The captain reported that the first officer did not survive the accident. The Aviation Herald heard an audio recording, identified to be the captain's voice by local aviators, in a mix of Congolese Swahili and French, the male voice thanking God and stating he is alive.

On Jul 27th 2026 the BPEA reported: "According to the currently available information, the aircraft would have crashed about 5NM, or approximately 10 KM, from the village of Buruko, in the Walikale territory, not far from the village of Pinga." (editorial note: Buruku and Buluku identify the same location).

On Jul 31st 2026 MONUSCO (by the United Nations) reported a Jordanian unit went from Beni to the crash site by helicopter on Jul 30th 2026 and rescued two survivors and recovered the body of the first officer. The survivors were about 8km from the crash site deep in forest and required urgent health care. A team of volunteers had reached the crash site on Jul 29th 2026 and confirmed the presence of the deceased first officer's body.

On Jul 31st 2026 the BPEA paid tribute to the first officer who died in the accident of Tracep's L410.