Five military killed in North Kordofan plane crash

April 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Five Sudanese military personnel were killed when a military plane crashed in the capital of North Kordofan State El Obied, 588 km south Khartoum on Saturday.

Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) spokesperson Brigadier, Ahmed Khalifa al-Shami, said in a brief statement that the military plane Antonov 26 crashed while landing in El Obied airport due to a technical problem.

“All the crew members including three officers and two soldiers were killed in the accident,” said the statement.

Late 2012, a Sudanese military fighter crashed in El Obied and its pilot was killed instantly.

At the time, SAF said it will investigate the reason of the crash, which happened after fulfilling a military operation; on South Kordofan State where the army fights the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N).

In the same year, three similar accidents occurred.

A Sudanese Armed Force drone crashed in Omdurman. Followed by the death of 12 people when a military Antonov crashed in the same town in October 2012.

32 people, including senior security and military officers and ministers, were killed when an army Antonov 26 hit a mountain and caught fire while landing in Tuldi in South Kordofan State in August 2012.

(ST)