In brief
In a devastating incident, a military aircraft crash in Sudan's capital has left at least 46 people dead, further straining a city already ravaged by conflict. The authorities have not disclosed the cause of the crash, as the nation grapples with escalating violence and a dire humanitarian situation.
The tragic crash of a military cargo aircraft in a residential area of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has resulted in the deaths of at least 46 individuals, according to local officials on Wednesday. This incident marks one of the most catastrophic aviation disasters in Sudan’s recent history, occurring amidst the backdrop of nearly three years of civil conflict that has already devastated the city.The Sudanese military confirmed that the Antonov cargo plane went down on Tuesday evening shortly after taking off from the Wadi Seidna airbase, located just outside the capital. However, officials have not yet provided a reason for the accident or released detailed information about those on board.The crash has also left at least 10 individuals injured, including two children, in the Al-Thawra neighborhood, where the aircraft fell. This tragedy compounds the ongoing chaos in Khartoum, where intense street battles between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) have resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and forcibly displaced around 11 million people from their homes.Khartoum has seen significant destruction in its skyline due to the prolonged conflict. The escalation of violence in recent weeks has reportedly increased the death toll, with a total of around 24.6 million people—almost half of Sudan's population—now facing heightened risks of famine, according to a recent report on global hunger.The airbase where the aircraft was stationed plays a central role in the military's efforts to reclaim control over Khartoum, functioning as a launch point for drone operations against R.S.F. forces. The ongoing struggle for dominance has intensified, with recent claims from the R.S.F. that they shot down another military aircraft in Nyala, in the South Darfur region, although these assertions remain unconfirmed by the military.Sudan has endured multiple deadly aviation incidents in the past, including a 2003 crash involving Sudan Airways that resulted in 116 fatalities, leaving only one boy as the sole survivor. The pattern of crashes persists, affecting military and commercial flights, raising safety concerns within the country's aviation industry as the nation grapples with ongoing conflict and instability.
