A Sudanese army plane crashed on Tuesday in a residential area near the Wadi Seidna military airport in northern Omdurman, killing at least 46 people, including military personnel and civilians.
The Antonov aircraft reportedly went down during takeoff, causing widespread destruction in the Karrari district of Omdurman, which is part of greater Khartoum. The Khartoum Media Office confirmed on Wednesday that the crash also left 10 people injured.
Initial reports from the health ministry placed the death toll at 20, but officials later revised the number as more bodies were recovered from the crash site. Among the deceased was Major-General Bahr Ahmed, a senior commander in Khartoum.
The Sudanese military, which has been engaged in conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, issued a statement confirming the deaths and detailing how firefighting teams successfully contained the blaze that erupted after the crash.
Eyewitnesses in northern Omdurman described hearing a powerful explosion that shook nearby homes and caused power outages across several neighborhoods.
While the exact cause of the crash remains unknown, the incident has intensified concerns about the ongoing conflict’s impact on civilian areas.
Authorities are continuing their investigation as rescue teams work to clear the wreckage and assist affected residents.