The aircraft, which carried 33 people, belonged to MONUSCO, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a Congo Transportation Ministry official.

The plane crashed early Monday afternoon while attempting to land at the Kinshasa airport after a flight from Goma in the eastern part of the vast nation in central Africa, the official said.

The Kinshasa airport reported strong thunderstorms and sustained winds of 37 kph (23 mph) at the time.

UN Peacekeeping Director Alain Le Roy said the aircraft missed the airstrip likely because of the wind, but he cautioned the investigation was in its early stages.

Most of those on board were UN personnel; five worked for other agencies, Le Roy told reporters.

Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said America "stands ready to assist the UN in the aftermath of this terrible accident."

"As we know well, a stable and prosperous future for the DRC must begin with peace for its people, and U.N. personnel have worked courageously to strengthen the protection of the nation's women, men and children after years of strife," Rice said.