Military plane crashes due to technical fault in Kordofan; drone destroyed

November 4, 2025 (BABANUSA) – Sudan’s army said on Tuesday a military cargo plane crashed near Babanusa in West Kordofan state due to a technical fault, adding that it had also shot down a drone in the area.

The army has been using airdrops to resupply its forces, which are besieged by the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Babanusa, and has been bombing RSF gatherings in the state.

The army’s 22nd Infantry Division said in a statement the plane suffered a “sudden malfunction in its right wing” after completing a resupply mission. It lost balance, caught fire, and crashed, killing the entire crew.

The statement added that the crew steered the plane away from army positions before it went down tens of kilometres west of the base.

In a separate statement, the division said its anti-aircraft defences shot down a “hostile strategic drone” that tried to enter its airspace, adding its forces were on high alert.

The RSF, in a rival claim, said it had shot down an “Ilyushin” warplane over Babanusa. It published a video of the burning wreckage but provided no further evidence.

The RSF has reportedly mobilized fighters in El Fula, Lagawa, and other locations for a potential new attack on Babanusa. The group has been trying to capture the city since its first assault on January 22, 2024, but has faced resistance from the besieged army forces.