The number of deaths from a crash of a Sudan military plane in Omdurman, a suburb city of Khartoum, has increased to at least 46, authorities confirmed. The Antonov plane crashed late Tuesday while taking off from Wadi Seidna military airport in northern Omdurman, injuring 10 others.
A Sudanese military Antonov aircraft crashed in Omdurman, north of Khartoum, on Tuesday evening, killing the crew and several military personnel on board. Eyewitnesses said at least five civilians on the ground were also killed and dozens injured when debris from the plane struck… pic.twitter.com/PS733snFLg
— Sudan Tribune (@SudanTribune_EN) February 26, 2025
The Khartoum Media Office released the latest statistics on Wednesday after an initial death toll of 19 was reported by the health ministry. The aircraft is said to have crashed into a civilian residence in the Karrari district of Omdurman. One of the casualties was Major-General Bahr Ahmed, a senior military commander in Khartoum.
Military and Civilian Casualties Confirmed
The Sudanese army, which has been fighting an ongoing battle with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, confirmed that civilians and military personnel were among the victims. Firefighting units were able to put out the fire at the crash site, averting further damage.
Although the military has not yet established the reason for the crash, sources indicate a technical failure as the probable cause. Witnesses in northern Omdurman heard a huge explosion, which destroyed several houses and led to power cuts in surrounding neighborhoods.
Escalating Conflict and Recent Attacks
The war in Sudan has, up to now, cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. The conflict escalated following tension between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo regarding the future shape of the government.
Sudanese forces have been gaining in central Sudan and Khartoum as part of the multi-front attack by RSF forces. The plane crash follows the RSF’s claim yesterday that it had downed a Russian-made Ilyushin aircraft over Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.
UN Warns of Further Escalation
On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned to predict “further escalation” following the RSF declaration of plans to create a parallel administration in areas within its control.
The UN reports that the war has displaced over 12 million people and that Sudan today hosts the world’s largest displacement and hunger crises. With each passing day in the war, humanitarian concerns continue to rise with the recent plane crash adding to the devastation.
Sudanese forces have been gaining in central Sudan and Khartoum as part of the multi-front attack by RSF forces. The Sudan military plane crash follows the RSF’s claim yesterday that it had downed a Russian-made Ilyushin aircraft over Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.
