Five dead in plane crash in east Congo

Five people were killed in a cargo plane crash in East Congo, the regional governor said.

North Kivu Gov. Julien Mpaluku told The Associated Press by telephone plane burst into flames after hitting hardened lava on the airport runway that had been there since a volcano erupted in 2001.

"The five crew members, who were Russian, were all killed on the spot," Mpaluku said. "We are trying to determine whether there were passengers aboard."

Cargo planes were banned from carrying passengers after several accidents, but some continue to carry them clandestinely.

Mpaluku said the plane had taken off from the capital, Kinshasa, carrying oil and beauty products.