Tragedy struck on the outskirts of Khartoum as a Sudanese military transport plane crashed into a residential neighborhood, leaving 46 people dead and several others injured.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night near Wadi Seidna air base in Omdurman, has further shaken a nation already grappling with the devastating impact of war.
The ill-fated Antonov aircraft reportedly went down shortly after takeoff, according to Sudan’s army, which has been locked in a brutal conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.
Among the casualties were both military personnel and civilians. In an official statement, the Khartoum regional government confirmed the final toll, with 46 dead and 10 others injured. Earlier reports from the army-aligned health ministry had put the number of fatalities at 19.
Eyewitnesses recounted a harrowing scene, describing a loud explosion and extensive damage to homes in the area.
The crash also triggered power outages in nearby neighborhoods, compounding the suffering of residents. Emergency teams rushed to the site, transporting injured civilians—including children—to the nearest hospital for urgent medical care.
While an official investigation is still underway, a military source suggested that a technical malfunction was likely to blame. Speaking anonymously to AFP, the source indicated that the plane experienced issues during takeoff, leading to the fatal crash.
This accident came just a day after the RSF claimed responsibility for shooting down a Russian-made Ilyushin aircraft over Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.
The paramilitary group asserted that they had targeted and destroyed the plane with its entire crew onboard, signaling an alarming escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The crash is yet another grim development in Sudan’s ongoing war, which has seen fierce battles between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Once allies, the two leaders have been embroiled in a bitter power struggle since April 2023.
The war has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in recent memory, according to the United Nations. With tens of thousands of lives lost and over 12 million people displaced, the country is on the brink of collapse. Infrastructure has been crippled, and hunger and violence have engulfed the nation.
Adding to the tensions, late last week, the RSF signed a charter with allied political and armed groups in Nairobi, Kenya, signaling their intent to establish a parallel government in territories under their control.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army has made recent gains in central Sudan and parts of the capital as the battle for dominance rages on.
The crash of the military transport plane is not just an isolated tragedy—it is a reflection of the deeper turmoil consuming Sudan. As violence escalates and diplomatic solutions remain elusive, millions of Sudanese citizens continue to suffer the devastating consequences of a prolonged and brutal conflict.