The new Walikale airfield has an unpaved runway. Before it was built, aircraft used to land on the main road through Walikale town centre. The airfield currently has no assigned ICAO code.
In the satellite picture, it looks like there is a very large airplane with no way to get to the runway. I wonder if it's really cut off, or if they taxi it over the lava flow?
On 15 April 2008, a Hew Bora Airways DC-9 lost power to an engine during its takeoff roll, attempted to abort, and overran the end of the runway into a crowded market immediately to the south of the airport:
Nord-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Latest comments about airports in Nord-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Alphamine Bisie Airfield
🔗 Tue, 21 Jul 2026
— @Pugliapilot at Alphamine Bisie Airfield, Democratic Republic of the Congo
not have icao code is mining airfield
Aereodromo di Walikale
🔗 Mon, 20 Jul 2026
— @Pugliapilot at Walikale Airstrip, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The new Walikale airfield has an unpaved runway. Before it was built, aircraft used to land on the main road through Walikale town centre. The airfield currently has no assigned ICAO code.
re: Is this plane stranded?
🔗 Fri, 18 Apr 2008
— @david at Goma International Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo
According to Wikipedia, the plane is a DC-8 that has been stranded since the eruption.
All the best,
David
Is this plane stranded?
🔗 Fri, 18 Apr 2008
— @ptomblin at Goma International Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo
There doesn't appear to be a taxiway to the south that could get it to the runway.
re: Runway shortened by Lava
🔗 Fri, 18 Apr 2008
— @ptomblin at Goma International Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo
In the satellite picture, it looks like there is a very large airplane with no way to get to the runway. I wonder if it's really cut off, or if they taxi it over the lava flow?
Runway shortened by Lava
🔗 Thu, 17 Apr 2008
— @david at Goma International Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo
A 2002 volcanic eruption nearby sent a lava stream over the north portion of the runway. The south portion of 18/26 is still operational.
April 15 market crash
🔗 Thu, 17 Apr 2008
— @david at Goma International Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 15 April 2008, a Hew Bora Airways DC-9 lost power to an engine during its takeoff roll, attempted to abort, and overran the end of the runway into a crowded market immediately to the south of the airport:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Hewa_Bora_Airways_crash
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