2007 Free Airlines Let L-410 crash
On June 21, 2007, an overloaded Free Airlines Let L-410UVP in Karibu Airways livery crashed shortly after takeoff from Kamina Town for Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. Landing in a swamp east of the unpaved strip, the aircraft came to rest inverted in the water.
Background
Free Airlines and Karibu Airways were both on the List of air carriers banned in the EU. That list now bans "All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility forregulatory oversight of Democratic Republic of Congo ".
The L-410UVP is only rated for a maximum of 17 passengers, but there were 21 people aboard, including three crew. The aircraft was previously registered as 5R-MGO by the now-defunct Madagascar Flying Services. It was reported to have previously crashed in southern Sudan in 2005.