Sudan civil aviation chief sacked; Russian planes grounded
June 30, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir issued a decree today relieving the chief of the civil aviation authority Gen. Abu-Bakr Gaa’far.
Ibrahim Abdullah Abd Al-Karim was named as the new civil aviation authority chief.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) also reported that Al-Bashir banned all Russian made planes from operation.
The decision by the Sudanese president comes in the aftermath of a cargo plane crash today near Khartoum airport shortly after takeoff killing four Russian crew members.
A plane (Ilyushin 76) chartered by a private company called Ababiel crashed near the airport in an empty area.
The plane crashed and the fire had already started while it was in the air, a witness said. While taking off the plane collided with an electricity pillar and crashed, he added.
The plane was flying from Khartoum to Juba.
Earlier this month a Sudan airways passenger plane veered off the runway and burst into flames minutes after it landed killing 28 people.
The civil aviation authority came under heavy criticism for what was perceived as poor enforcement if safety standards.
“The civil aviation authority enjoys looking at the skies to see planes falling down without putting any effort or come up with plans to stop this cycle” Adel Al-Baz the editor in chief of the daily Al-Ahdath said in his column titled ‘The Civil Aviation Empire’.
Sudanese officials have blamed the US sanctions for preventing delivery of aircraft spare parts.
But Washington said that aircraft spare parts are exempted from the sanctions.
The Sudanese president instructed the Justice ministry to draft a new law making the civil aviation authority more independent from governmental authority.
Some have interpreted Al-Bashir’s proposal as an attempt to move the aviation body away from the control of military figures and have it managed by a staff with more hands on technical experience.
(ST)
Gai Chol Paul
Sudan civil aviation chief sacked; Russian planes grounded
Bashir,it is good to change your millitary policies that have distablized the nation for years.pliz don’t blame American sanction on you.it is because of your notoriety that brought threat to lives of innocents Sudanese.pliz ,if you have accept change ,change completely.
cholabdi
Sudan civil aviation chief sacked; Russian planes grounded
Dear mr Al-Bashir, is there is any day that you have been staying without eating? for the plane to met all the safety requirement, it has to be taken for services. it’s not a matter of saking people but matter of taking plane for service, how many planes crash within this year and therefor, iam very sorry for those people who have lost lives, it would be better if it were you mr president, and i hope in coming days it will be your turn. if you are really man of the people mr president please consider the safety of the people.
Hakuna Matata
Sudan civil aviation chief sacked; Russian planes grounded
hi all
to give the devil his right, this is his only good deed since he became president by coup in 1989.
he should also handover darfur convicts to ICC to prove that he is caring for sudan citizens.
Never blame US on santions, since they were ready to normalize and lift any imbargo in exchange to peace and stability in the region and you choose instability……hence these are the fruits of that..
Hakuna Matata Wetu
Deng Akol Agut-tungdoun
Sudan civil aviation chief sacked; Russian planes grounded
That is not enough mr. Basheir.
You have taken a good step but that is not enough. You must stop sponsering those eraabiin or terrorist so that Sudan can not be consider as failed and corrupt country. Without doing that, nothing will change and God will continue punishing Khartoum.
Bring those criminal to the ICC for the good of our Sudan.
Deng Akol Agut-tungduon, aman far away from tribalism.
Khot Gabriel Deng
Sudan civil aviation chief sacked; Russian planes grounded
Mr. Bashir, you were sleeping but seem you want to awak after what?, since you let your brothers the sudanese being subjected to death by unknown terrorist, it is too late president.
I recomment you to serious in this issue of the plane month by month otherwise the next person will be “you”.
Khot Gabriel Deng
Khot Gabriel Deng
Sudan civil aviation chief sacked; Russian planes grounded
Mr. Bashir, you were sleeping but seem you want to awak after what?, since you let your brothers the sudanese being subjected to death by unknown terrorist, it is too late president.
I recomment you to serious in this issue of the plane month by month otherwise the next person will be “you”.
Khot Gabriel Deng