Sudan military plane crashes into residential area; 46 killed
What's the story
The death toll from a military plane crash in Omdurman, near Khartoum, Sudan, has now reached 46, officials said on Wednesday. The Antonov aircraft crashed while taking off from Wadi Seidna military airport on Tuesday. The incident also left 10 injured, the Khartoum Media Office reported. Initially, the health ministry had reported a death toll of 19.
Civilian impact
Crash impacts civilian area, senior commander among casualties
The aircraft crashed into a civilian house in the Karrari district of Omdurman, damaging several other homes and leaving nearby neighborhoods without power. Reported to be among the dead was Major-General Bahr Ahmed, a senior commander in Khartoum. The Sudanese military confirmed that both military personnel and civilians were among the casualties.
Conflict backdrop
Crash aftermath and ongoing conflict in Sudan
Firefighting teams managed to contain the blaze at the crash site. Although the cause of the crash remains unconfirmed, military sources told Reuters that technical reasons were a likely cause. This incident comes just a day after paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have downed a Russian-made Ilyushin plane in Nyala, South Darfur.
Escalation warning
Sudan's power struggle intensifies, UN warns of escalation
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 2023 after a power struggle erupted between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamadan Daglo. According to the United Nations, over 12 million people have been displaced in the ongoing war. Recent major advances by the army against RSF forces in central Sudan and Khartoum have further escalated the conflict.