UN cargo plane crashes in Tanzania, one injured

Dar es Salaam, Jul 13: A United Nations cargo plane flying from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crashed in Tanzania yesterday, injuring one of five crew members, officials said.

The plane, a Lockheed 382, was flying into the airport in Kigoma, 1080 kms northwest of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, when it crashed off one of the airport's runways.

''The plane operates between Kigoma, Kisangani (DRC) and other places,'' Kigoma regional police Commander Patrick Byatao said. ''It had a captain and four crew members. One of the crew members was injured and he is receiving treatment.'' An official from the Tanzania Civil Aviation said the plane was reported to have descended and gone 100 metres off a runway at the airport.

The crash took place at about 3:15 p.m. local time (1215 GMT). Byatao said the plane belonged to TransAfric Limited and chartered by the United Nations for flights into DRC.

REUTERS