Sudan Military Aircraft Crash (February 2025)

Sudan Military Aircraft Crash, on 25 February 2025, was a military aircraft accident that occurred in the Umdurman region west of the capital of Sudan, Khartoum. An Antonov-type aircraft belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces took off from the Wadi Sayyidna military base and crashed into a civilian settlement shortly after takeoff. The Sudanese Armed Forces issued a statement following the crash, announcing that both soldiers and civilians had been killed. A total of 46 people lost their lives and 10 were injured in the incident.

The area where the Sudan Military Aircraft Crash occurred – AP News

The Crash and Its Consequences

The aircraft crashed into a house in the Umdurman district of Khartoum, causing a massive explosion on impact. As a result, several homes were destroyed, power outages occurred and fires broke out. According to statements by Sudanese authorities, the death toll was initially reported as 19 but was later raised to 46. The Sudanese government announced that debris clearance operations following the crash had been completed.

Cause of the Crash

No definitive explanation has been provided for the cause of the crash, with technical failure being the primary hypothesis. While the Sudanese Armed Forces have not released detailed information regarding the cause, military sources reported that the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction during takeoff. One day before the crash, the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have shot down a Russian-made Ilyushin-type military aircraft in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. However, no official statement has confirmed any connection between the RSF and the Umdurman crash.

Connection to the Sudanese Civil War

The crash occurred amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has persisted since 2023. While the Sudanese Armed Forces have announced advances against the RSF in Khartoum and Central Sudan, it has been reported that military aircraft are being used more frequently due to the intensity of the fighting.

Casualties

Among the 46 people killed in the crash is reportedly Lieutenant General Bahr Ahmed. The Sudanese Armed Forces have not issued an official statement on this matter; the information was reported by Sudan Tribune news. The military’s official statement confirmed that both soldiers and civilians died in the crash but did not provide detailed identification of the fallen personnel.

Aviation Safety and Similar Accidents

Similar accidents have occurred in the country in the past:

• In 2020, 16 people died when a Sudanese Antonov An-12 military aircraft crashed.
• In 2003, a Sudan Airways passenger aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing, resulting in the deaths of 116 people.