DR Congo Plane Crash - Could it Be Prevented?
What do your travel choices mean for your family's safety?
The Democratic Republic of Congo has one of the worst records for plane crashes worldwide. Unfortunately, yesterday brought yet another tragedy. At least 113 passengers were injured and 38 died after the DC-9 jet crashed into a residential area of Gomo, a market town in Congo.
Rescue Workers in Goma, Congo/ AP NewsBecause the plane "never really took off" passengers were
able to escape the plane through cracks in the wreckage. Unfortunately, people
trapped in the rubble under the plane were less fortunate. The death toll is
expected to rise as the excavation continues.
The list of plane crashes in Congo since 1996 is astronomical. It might be the reason why the European Union bans Congolese planes from flying in the EU.
So why are people still flying on them?
When you have a choice between airlines, keep track record in mind. In out-of-the-way-places, you might even have to pay more for a flight (but if it means saving your life, consider the money well spent).
A Minnesota native, Marybeth Mosier (a missionary in Tanzania) and her children were onboard the doomed flight. Her 14 year old daughter was helped out of the plane by another passenger, and her 3 year old son suffered only a broken leg.
We admire her bravery, and that she kept a level head while traveling. In any situation, its quick reactions like hers that can save lives. At one point, she even had to turn her back on a fellow passenger:
"As we were rushing down the aisle, smoke was coming up through the floor," she said. "A man was trapped under the seats and he was burning. I tried to pull him up, he was asking for help. ... But there were so many people pushing."
That horrific choice must have gone against all of her instincts. And we applaud her for doing the best she could and not panicking.
For more information visit one of these accredited news sources:
Have you ever been in a plane crash or situation that took everything you had to keep it together?
