At least 20 die in Congo plane crash

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At least 20 people were killed when a plane crashed in western Democratic Republic of Congo, an official in the prime minister's office said.

"There were 20 dead and one survivor, who is fighting for his life," the official told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Earlier, Madnodje Mounoubai, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, said a number of people had been killed when a plane crashed onto a house while trying to land at the airstrip in the town of Bandundu.

Mounoubai and the government official said the plane belonged to a local company called Filair.

The central African country's transport networks have largely fallen into decay after years of conflict and neglect, making travel by road or rail often impossible.

But the nation has among the world's worst air safety records and crashes are frequent.

- Reuters