Congo Airways Jet Impounded in Ireland

A jet owned by Democratic Republic of Congo's new national airline has been impounded in Ireland, officials have confirmed. The Airbus A320 jet operated by Congo Airways was seized in Dublin by a court acting on behalf of US investors, who say the Congolese government owes them $11.5m (£7.3m).

The court heard they had become involved in a dispute with DR Congo over the ownership of two diamond mines. A lawyer for the US investors said that following an arbitration process in 2007, his clients were awarded $13m (£8.3m) but had only received approximately $1.5m, BBC reports.

The investors acted when they discovered the aircraft was undergoing maintenance at Dublin airport. A second jet had left the airport in late July.