One of the world’s last two airworthy Douglas DC-8 aircraft has suffered a serious runway excursion at Kinshasa International Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Trans Air Cargo Service’s 9S-AJO, a 56-year-old DC-8-70 freighter, reportedly veered off the runway during takeoff on Tuesday morning. The aircraft came to rest with its nose landing gear collapsed and significant damage to its lower fuselage.
Preliminary information points to a possible hydraulic problem, although investigators will need to determine exactly what caused the aircraft to leave the runway. Congo’s aviation accident investigation authorities have already dispatched investigators to the scene.
The incident could mark the end of an extraordinary chapter in aviation history.
9S-AJO was the only aircraft listed as active in Trans Air Cargo Service’s fleet. The operator has other DC-8 airframes stored for parts, highlighting just how difficult it has become to keep these legendary four-engine jets flying more than five decades after production ended.
The DC-8 entered service in the late 1950s and became one of the defining jetliners of the early jet age. Today, only a tiny handful remain, with even fewer still capable of taking to the skies.
Although parts from stored aircraft could theoretically be used to repair 9S-AJO, the extent of the damage may make that economically impossible. Repairing a severely damaged, 56-year-old aircraft can cost millions of dollars—potentially far more than the aircraft itself is worth.
If 9S-AJO is ultimately written off, it could leave just ONE operational DC-8-70 freighter flying anywhere in the world.
For aviation enthusiasts, the possible loss is more than just another aircraft retirement. It could mean the disappearance of one of the last living examples of the classic Douglas quadjet era.
A legend that has survived for more than half a century may have taken its final flight.
