A military aircraft crash in a residential area of Sudan's capital has resulted in the deaths of at least 46 individuals, according to regional officials on Wednesday. This incident adds to the ongoing devastation in a city that has been plagued by nearly three years of civil war.
Characterized as one of the deadliest plane crashes in Sudan's recent history, the crash involved an Antonov cargo aircraft that went down while taking off from the Wadi Seidna air base, located just outside Khartoum. The state government confirmed that the fatalities included both passengers aboard the aircraft and residents on the ground, although the cause of the crash has not been identified.
In addition to the fatalities, the crash has left at least 10 individuals injured, including two young children, in the Al-Thawra neighborhood, which is in close proximity to the air base, as reported by the state health ministry.
Khartoum has witnessed extensive destruction due to ongoing street battles between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.), resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of at least 11 million people. The city's skyline is heavily damaged.
Recent escalations in fighting have led to hundreds more casualties, and the protracted conflict has rendered approximately 24.6 million people, or about half of Sudan's population, more susceptible to famine, as warned by a global authority on hunger in December.
The Wadi Seidna air base plays a critical role in the military's operations to regain control over Khartoum, serving as a logistics hub for cargo flights, including those transporting munitions. The military has utilized drones launched from the base in its efforts against R.S.F. forces that have captured parts of the capital.
On Monday, the R.S.F. claimed responsibility for shooting down a different military aircraft over Nyala, a city in South Darfur, although the Sudanese military has not commented on this assertion.
In October, another military cargo plane crashed in North Darfur, resulting in the deaths of three Sudanese officers and two Russian nationals, with the cause of that incident remaining unclear.
Historically, Sudan has experienced several tragic aviation incidents, including a 2003 Sudan Airways crash that killed 116 people and left a lone survivor, as well as other fatal accidents involving military and commercial carriers.