Several fragmentary reports coalesced around a crash killing at least six expats, identified in one report as Americans who visited a gorilla sanctuary on Friday 15 Sept. The incident was reported to have taken place 70 km from the village of Ingende, with the aircraft sinking into a swamp. Reports stated that the wreckage had not been found.
The DRC Ministry of Transport has denied that a crash occurred, stating on 19 Sept that the villagers were likely reacting to a low-flying MAF aircraft chartered by Greenpeace for a photo shoot. Based at Ndolo, the aircraft overnighted at Mbandaka and has since returned to Ndolo. Nonetheless the Ministry of Transport is waiting for reports of security services to confirm whether there was really a crash. Very remote area, zero connectivity, looks like an endless broccoli farm from the air.