15 Sudanese military Killed after plane crash near Khartoum

October 7, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Fifteen military personnel were killed when a Russian military plane crashed on Sunday morning, 40 kilometres west of Omdurman, in Khartoum State.

Al-Sawarmi Khaled, spokesperson of the Sudanese army, announced the crash of the transport plane, Antonov An-12, saying it was carrying military equipment to El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. He said there 16 military personnel on board in addition to its crew of six people.

He said that the crash was due to a technical failure, as the captain had reported that one of the engines stopped working and then said the second engine stopped also, Al Sawarmi said, adding the plane crashed during an emergency landing.

Initially the army said 13 were killed and nine other wounded but on Sunday evening the military spokesperson issued another statement saying two others died of their wounds.

He pledged that an investigation team was dispatched to the site of the crash adding that a conclusion would be reached soon.

(ST)