Sudanese Military Plane Crashes Near Khartoum, Killing Officers and Civilians
A Sudanese military plane crashed on Tuesday near the capital, Khartoum, resulting in the deaths of several officers and civilians, according to the army. Pro-democracy activists reported at least ten fatalities in the incident.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, the Sudanese army, which has been engaged in a conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, confirmed that the aircraft went down during takeoff from Wadi Seidna air base in Omdurman, a major military hub. The crash caused multiple injuries, with the wounded transported to local hospitals. Firefighting teams managed to contain the blaze at the site.
A military source cited a technical malfunction as the likely cause of the Antonov aircraft crash. Meanwhile, local Resistance Committees reported that ten bodies and several injured individuals were brought to Al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman.
Eyewitnesses described significant damage to homes in the area and reported a loud explosion, which also led to power outages in multiple neighborhoods. One witness noted that the plane had been flying southbound from northern Sudan before it crashed.
The crash follows increased hostilities between Sudan’s army and the RSF, which on Monday claimed responsibility for shooting down a Russian-made Ilyushin fighter jet in Nyala, South Darfur. The RSF stated that the aircraft was destroyed along with its crew on board.
This latest escalation comes as the Sudanese army makes advances in central Sudan and Khartoum in its multi-front battle against the RSF. The conflict, which began in April 2023, stems from a power struggle between Army Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, once close allies. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a severe humanitarian crisis, described by the United Nations as one of the worst in recent memory.
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591626/middle-east