A Sudanese military transport plane crashed on Tuesday near Khartoum, resulting in the deaths of its crew members and at least five civilians on the ground. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Wadi Seidna air base, a key military hub located in Omdurman, part of the greater Khartoum area.
The aircraft, an Antonov, reportedly experienced a technical malfunction prior to the crash. Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion as the plane went down, which also caused power outages in nearby neighborhoods. The crash inflicted damage on several homes in the area.
Emergency responders transported injured civilians to Al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman, where medical personnel confirmed the arrival of the deceased and injured.
This incident follows recent escalations in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, particularly involving the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Just a day before the crash, the RSF claimed responsibility for downing a fighter jet in Nyala, South Darfur, further heightening tensions in a country already grappling with a power struggle between the military and paramilitary groups.
Since April 2023, the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been engaged in a violent conflict with the RSF, headed by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamadan Daglo. This struggle for power has resulted in significant loss of life and has triggered one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, according to the United Nations.