A Sudanese military plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, on Tuesday evening, killing at least 46 people and injuring 10 others.
The Russian-built Antonov aircraft had taken off from the military’s Wadi Seidna air base before it went down. Both military personnel and civilians were among the casualties. While the cause of the crash remains unclear, military sources suspect a technical malfunction.
The tragedy occurred just a day after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have downed a fighter jet in South Darfur amid ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army. The war, which began in April 2023, has led to thousands of deaths and displaced around 12 million people.
Emergency teams rushed injured civilians, including children, to a nearby hospital, while Reuters quoted military sources confirming that a senior army commander in Khartoum was among those killed. Witnesses reported a loud explosion as the aircraft crashed, damaging homes and causing power outages in the area.
Sudan remains deeply divided by war, with the army controlling the north and east while the RSF dominates Darfur and parts of the south. Recent weeks have seen the military regain some territories around Khartoum from the RSF.