There are more than 3,000 rebel troops in the vicinity of Kindu, and they claim to control one-third of the town.
The rebels say they hit the jet with a missile Saturday as it was about to land at Kindu Airport. The rebels claim the plane was filled with government soldiers.
A Congo Airlines official says the plane was just taking off when the missile struck. The airline says the plane was carrying civilians being evacuated from Kindu, due to an expected rebel ground attack.
Neither claim can be independently confirmed.
Rebels are fighting to topple the government of President Laurent Kabila.
The president swept to power just over a year ago, ending the 32-year reign of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in the former Zaire. Kabila re-named the country the Democractic Republic of Congo.
About 500 Canadians were advised to leave the country in August when the conflict neared the capital city of Kinshasa.
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