One of the last airworthy DC-8s is currently mired in mud at the end of a runway at N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa after an excursion on Tuesday. According to the Africa Business Insider, the aircraft is owned by Trans Air Cargo Service and was the company’s only operable aircraft. The nosegear collapsed in the mishap and there is no word if the historic jet can be repaired. There were four crew on board and no injuries were reported.
The aircraft, 9S-AJO, was among the last DC-8s to leave McDonnell Douglas’s Long Beach, California, factory. It was built in 1970 and production ended in 1972. It was delivered to charter carrier World Airways and went through various owners before toiling in the Congo. According to Wikipedia, that leaves just one DC-8 in commercial service. It’s owned by Skybus Jet Cargo of Peru and was returned to service in February of 2025.
Another pilot’s wife looking for a pilot husband with intact career. Note to self: Skip the overrun, always bring the wreckage to a full stop on airport property.
Jason, your making sport of accident pilots’ wives and their marriages has gotten old and trite by now and reflects on you more than on anyone else.
We have no concrete knowledge of the facts surrounding this accident, but theoretically those facts could range anywhere from aircraft systems malfunctions to human misjudgment. There was likely no magenta in that instrument panel and no auto pilot coupling to approaches. Weather at the time was FZAA 080800Z 26010KT 2500 BR BKN016 26/20 Q1016 BECMG VIS 4000M BR=
I spent most of a decade in the ’70s and ’80s flying in Congo and witnessed everything from intermittent ILS service while on approach, to massively unairworthy aircraft, to outlaw pilots from the western developed world flying there because they were no longer welcome at home. By now there is a good cadre of national pilots, but it’s a very rough and difficult environment. Why don’t we just leave it at that and leave accident pilots’ wives and marriages out of the commentary.
Not sure about Jason, but be assured that Some men don’t forget what modern feminism and the court system has done to destroy men’s lives and families.
Chances are, this airframe would have been highly unlikely to be permitted to operate anywhere other than in Africa. I am also halfway willing to bet, that it will be riveted, glued or duct-taped back together to continue to turn a profit for its owners.
The pilots I wish long and healthy lives and even better wives and maybe (just maybe) better and more modern working conditions in the future. I somehow happen to know why I turned two flying gigs down on this continent.
Meanwhile, excuse my ignorance of my reflection upon you. I tried, but find no reason to accept or consider any beratement from you. Thanks!
I don’t know, Jason, I saw what remained of the right wing of that 21 Air cargo crash and it was completely burned off from what I could tell. I don’t believe there is any glue, rivets or duct tape that could put that one back together.
Lets not underestimate African ingenuity and ability to build, rebuild and flatout manufacture flying objects. If there is a way to let the airframe earn a dollar of profit, it will be found.
Talk about no sense of humor.
Attempts at humor at the expense of the unfortunate is cruelty, not humor.
Jason, based only upon your comment and the various replies thereto, my conclusion is: there are two types of pilots: those who write humorous comments, and those who aren’t able to recognize humor when they see it. Or maybe they just didn’t get the joke…
I am used to being barked at for my – at times – rather coal-colored humor.
The last time I used this wife-comment, a political piss fest broke out and Russ deleted all of it including my comment. That was the Superpilot who killed 5 people and called his wife to report his career being over.
Surprisingly, here the hobby politicians kept their mouth halfway shut, hence someone had to feel offended about unnamed wifes and how all around bad guy Jason Baker made fun of them in the comments section of a aviation news site from 8736.5 Miles away.
Sigh. It is what it is.
It may be what it is, but keep up your insights and humor, Jason.
You should have heard the cackle yesterday in the Post Office queue when I responded to a question by saying as tactfully as possible that after 25 years I’m over 9/11. Actually, I was over it in about 5.
Just part of our great social experiment.
I have tried long and hard. But the number of pontificators has exceeded my red light flashing threshhold several years ago. I often nod and move along and even simply skip engaging with people when spending a lot of time justifying in the past. Telling peeps to fart off is better for the health.
Just had a long discussion with a old friend and now retired Psychiatrist. In a word: Society has gone ape shit polarized and simply saying hello can cause phobias and severe anxiety.
I’ll now return to my bunker and think deeply about Jamey’s very informative input. Once I return, new topics will be dead front and center. 😆😉
If this is what destroys his marriage then he chose his bride poorly and the marriage was already doomed.
You may find it hard to believe – some people are together for reasons that transcend careers and money.
Obviously not the original engines.
I think Franklin Graham at Samaritans Purse had the other DC-8 that is still flying. Not sure where to find a check airman to keep the crew certified though. This video shows its last flight.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CsomgUBCfz0&pp=ygUhU2FtYXJpdGFucyBwdXJzZSBEQy04IGxhc3QgZmxpZ2h0
There Is one based in MIA on the Peruvian registry that makes weekly flights to/from MIA. While 9S-AJO is most likely beyond economical repair, she’ll become a parts donor to help keep the last flying DC-8 in the air a bit longer.
I remember seeing several DC-8’s with the upgraded engines over at Columbia, South Carolina back in the late 90’s. I think that was UPS as I recall.
Sadly, with only one left active in the world, the end is near for this amazing aircraft. Nothing currently available can match it for performance/capability.
When I was about 28 years old, I was flying as a Captain on a Jetstream and I had an old seasoned, laid off, Braniff Captain flying as my first officer. Super guy. He was number 16 on the seniority list at Braniff and was flying DC-8’s in South America while I was sitting at home still in diapers. The experience and maturity of the guy just oozed out in every situation. He said the last time he tried to pull up to the gate in a 727, they wouldn’t let him park because Braniff hadn’t paid their bill. Braniff spent so much time in chapter 11 that they earned the title “frequent filer.”
Braniff had their share of issues, but still the only U.S. carrier to fly the Concorde!
Airline competition was cut throat back then.