A South African Air Force plane crashed at Goma Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday.

It is understood that the C-130BZ was in the area as part of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Videos on social media showed smoke rising from the plane.

Local news website ICI KIVU quoted UN spokesperson Mathias Gillman as saying that the plane had crash-landed and the left engine had caught alight.

Eight crew members and 59 passengers on board were all evacuated, it reported.

Reuters reported that there did not appear to be major damage to the plane. 

Comment from SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini will be added as soon as it is received.

IOL