In brief
A tragic military aircraft accident in Sudan’s capital has left a devastating impact, claiming the lives of at least 46 individuals, as the country grapples with a tumultuous civil war that has been ongoing for nearly three years. The Antonov cargo plane crashed on Tuesday evening while taking off from the Wadi Seidna air base, which is crucial to the Sudanese military's operations against paramilitary forces. Along with casualties among those onboard, the crash has injured at least ten residents, including children, in the Al-Thawra neighborhood where the plane went down. The ongoing conflict has intensified recently, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of millions, with growing concerns over famine for nearly half of Sudan’s population.
In detail, on the evening of February 25, a military cargo plane crashed in a residential area of Khartoum, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 46 people. This catastrophic event adds to the series of misfortunes in a city that has seen substantial destruction due to the prolonged civil war, now in its third year.According to the Sudanese military, the aircraft, an Antonov model, was in the process of taking off from Wadi Seidna air base when it met with disaster. The cause of the crash remains undetermined, and while the military disclosed that there were both military personnel and civilians aboard, further details about the victims are yet to be confirmed.In addition to the fatalities, at least ten individuals were reported injured in Al-Thawra, with the health ministry confirming that two children were among the wounded. The crash underscores the escalating violence in Khartoum, where skirmishes between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) have left the city in devastation, with tens of thousands losing their lives.Recent weeks have seen an alarming rise in combat between the two factions, leading to hundreds more deaths as the protracted skirmish has rendered two-thirds of Sudan’s population—approximately 24.6 million people—susceptible to famine, according to a December report from the leading global authority on hunger.Wadi Seidna air base plays a pivotal role in the military’s effort to regain control of Khartoum, launching aerial attacks on R.S.F. positions. The base also serves as a logistics hub for military supplies. Just days before the plane crash, the R.S.F. claimed responsibility for downing another military aircraft over Nyala in South Darfur, although the military did not verify the report.Sudan has a troubled aviation history, with several past incidents involving military and commercial aircraft alike, including a fatal incident in 2003 where a Sudan Airways flight crashed, resulting in 116 deaths, and another in 2020 where an Antonov aircraft went down in West Darfur, killing all onboard. With the ongoing tragedy of military confrontations and the ensuing humanitarian crisis looming heavily over Sudan, the latest crash adds further urgency to the already critical needs faced by millions in the country.Lynsey Chutel is a Times reporter based in London who covers breaking news in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
