GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO/CNN) - A passenger plane crashed in a residential compound a few meters from the United Nations Mission's (MONUSCO) offices on Monday in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The plane belonging to the Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation crashed while trying to land during a heavy rain storm. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
The aircraft, a Fokker 50, was en-route to Goma from Lodja, a mining town in Kasai Orientale province in the central DRC.
Seven bodies were retrieved from the wreckage, among them two crew members. Three survivors were rescued and rushed to the hospital where they're still undergoing treatment.
The plane may have started breaking into pieces before crashing into the residential compound.
Some debris from the plane hit a MONUSCO communication tower, causing damage to microwave equipment.
MONUSCO offices and vehicles were also damaged by the falling debris.
There were no human casualties to UN staff.
The DRC has a long history of air accidents as many aircrafts still in service are old and poorly maintained.
MONUSCO/CNN