They are on the
List of air carriers banned in the European Union as well as a UN list of businesses targeted by sanctions in regard of the transport of arms and ammunition.[2][3] The company is owned by Douglas Mpamo, according to the UN.[3]
26 August 2007 - In
Kongolo,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, 14 of 15 aboard died when an overloaded
Antonov An-32B (
NATO reporting name "Curl", registration 9Q-CAC) owned by
Agefreco Air and operated by the Great Lakes Business Company
crashed short of the runway while attempting to return to the airport after experiencing engine problems. The
tin trade had become lucrative and violent when the use of lead solder was phased out of electronics for environmental reasons,[4] and the aircraft was overloaded with nine tons of
cassiterite (tin ore) and other minerals in addition to its 12 passengers and three-person crew of two
Ukrainians and one
Russian. The company's licence was suspended on 29 August 2007, along with the airport manager and the
Kinshasa director of civil aviation, pending an inquiry.[2][5]