MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - One Russian and two Ukrainians were among those killed when an Antonov cargo plane crashed in eastern Congo on Sunday, an official with the Russian Embassy in Kinshasa said Monday.
The AN-32, owned by local airline GLBC, was carrying tin ore when it crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff from Kongolo, in the Katanga province, due to engine problems. Congolese media said a total of 13 passengers and crew died, and two people survived.
"Three crew members were killed according to reports from various sources," said Alexander Turchinovich, the head of embassy's consular department. "Among those killed were Valery Ryzhankov, a Russian flight engineer, and two Ukrainian citizens, including the captain of the crew."
The plane was en route to Goma in the North Kivu province, a transit hub for mineral exports from the east of the country.
"Eleven minutes after takeoff from Kongolo, one of the two engines failed and the pilot decided to return to the airport. But under conditions of a strong back wind and poor visibility, the overloaded aircraft clipped the tops of trees and went down," Turchinovich said.
A small child and a young man survived in the crash, and are being treated in a local hospital.
Turchinovich said experts from the airline are assisting the investigation.
