Casualties Rise to 46 in Sudan Military Plane Incident

Key Takeaways

The death toll from the military crash has reached 46.
Casualties include military personnel and civilians.
The crash occurred in a densely populated area.
Witnesses reported the plane flying low before the crash.
Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict.

Khartoum, Feb 26 (NationPress) The number of fatalities from a military aircraft accident, occurring to the north of Khartoum, has increased to 46, as reported by local officials on Wednesday.

"The count of victims from the aircraft incident, which transpired yesterday, has climbed to 46, along with 10 individuals injured," stated the Khartoum State Press Office, emphasizing that the casualties comprise both military members and civilians.

Health officials are in the process of transferring the injured from the site of the crash, where the aircraft fell onto a residence in the Al-Hara 75 locale of Omdurman. The injured parties are currently receiving care in state-run hospitals.

The Antonov plane, which departed from Wadi Seidna Airbase located approximately 22 km north of Khartoum, went down shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of its crew along with numerous army personnel, as indicated by a statement from the Sudanese military on Tuesday.

A military insider, who requested anonymity, attributed the accident to a technical malfunction. The aircraft, which had a crew of four, was reportedly engaged in a military operation, ferrying several high-ranking officers.

Witnesses reported that the plane was flying at a low altitude prior to its abrupt descent and subsequent explosion in a crowded area.

As per Sudan News, the air disaster resulted in the demise of a brigadier general, multiple officers and soldiers, alongside at least five civilians. The wreckage of the plane was strewn across residential properties, with some homes suffering considerable damage, according to Xinhua news agency.

The Karari Resistance Committees, a local volunteer organization, disclosed that numerous burn victims and 10 bodies were transported to medical facilities post-crash. The organization also highlighted the presence of severe injuries among the survivors.

This crash contributes to the persisting humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which has been mired in conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The violence has claimed over 29,600 lives and displaced more than 15 million individuals, as reported by the International Organisation for Migration.