Massive Loss of Life as Sudanese Military Plane Crashes in Omdurman.
At least 46 people have been confirmed dead after a Sudanese military plane crashed in Omdurman, officials confirmed on Wednesday, February 26.
The Antonov aircraft crashed on Tuesday, February 25, in a densely populated area, leaving at least 10 others injured, according to the government-run Khartoum Media Office. The initial toll of 19 deaths was later revised upwards by the health ministry.
The military reported that the crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Wadi Sayidna air base, which is situated north of Omdurman, a city neighboring the capital, Khartoum. The crash also caused significant damage to homes in the Karrari district, the media office added.
While the military confirmed that both armed forces personnel and civilians were among the victims, no further details on the number of casualties or the cause of the crash have been provided. The health ministry confirmed that some of the bodies had been taken to Nau Hospital in Omdurman.
Local sources suggested that the aircraft was headed to Port Sudan, which serves as the base for the military-backed government, when it came down over the Al-Thawra area in Karrari. Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud explosions, with thick smoke and dust darkening the sky over Omdurman.
The Sudan Tribune also reported that the plane was carrying high-ranking military officials, though this has not yet been confirmed by the military.
Aircraft accidents are not uncommon in Sudan, which has a poor aviation safety record. In 2020, a military Antonov An-12 crash in western Darfur killed at least 16 people. Back in 2003, a Sudan Airways civilian aircraft crashed into a hillside during an emergency landing, killing 116 people, with only one survivor.
Sudan is still in the throes of a brutal civil war that began in 2023 between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has devastated cities and resulted in widespread atrocities, including mass killings and rapes, some of which the United Nations and human rights organizations have classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in Darfur.
In recent months, fighting has intensified, with the military making gains against the RSF in Khartoum and other areas. On Monday, the RSF claimed responsibility for downing a military aircraft in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province.
