YEREVAN. – According to preliminary information, the crew of the cargo airplane, which crashed in the Republic of the Congo, comprised seven members five of whom were the citizens of Armenia, General Department of Civil Aviation spokeswoman Nelly Cherchinyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am, and added that the identities of the dead are still being checked.    

They were pilots and other crew members who were working in Congo-Brazzaville on contractual basis. 

Cherchinyan further informed that the plane belonged to AIR Service Company. Lightning was the initial cause of the crash, as, according to eyewitnesses, a lightning damaged the aircraft’s wing. The accident occurred Saturday, at dawn, while the plane was attempting to land.  

To note, the cargo plane crashed into a residential area in Congo-Brazzaville. As a result, thirty people died and twenty others suffered injuries. 

The plane crew comprised seven people, who lost their lives either during the impact or as a result of the ensuing fire.