At least 46 people have lost their lives, and 10 others have been injured after a Sudanese military aircraft crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital, Khartoum, according to state media. The Russian-built Antonov aircraft went down shortly after take-off from the military’s Wadi Seidna air base on Tuesday evening, claiming the lives of both military personnel and civilians.
While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, military sources suggest that a technical malfunction is the likely explanation. The incident occurred just a day after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), currently engaged in a conflict with the Sudanese army, claimed responsibility for downing a fighter jet in South Darfur.
The ongoing war has devastated vast regions of Sudan, including Khartoum and Omdurman, with thousands killed and approximately 12 million people displaced. Following the crash, the health ministry confirmed that emergency teams transported injured civilians, including children, to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
According to Reuters, unnamed military sources reported that a senior army commander in Khartoum was among those killed in the crash. Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion and seeing several homes severely damaged when the aircraft plummeted to the ground, AFP reported. The impact also caused widespread power outages in neighbouring areas.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal civil war, stemming from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The conflict has effectively divided the country, with the army maintaining control over the north and east, while the RSF holds most of the Darfur region in the west and parts of the south. In recent weeks, the army has regained control of key areas in and around Khartoum, reclaiming territory from the RSF in an ongoing and intensifying battle for dominance.
