Saudi plane shot down in Sudan with passengers on board, airline says

The airline Saudi Airlines confirmed this Saturday that one of its planes had “an accident” in the Khartoum International Airport before taking off for Riyadh around seven in the morning, hours before the clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary group began Rapid Support Forces (FAR).

READ ALSO: FAR will not lay down weapons until Sudanese army surrenders, says its leader

In an official statement, the Saudi airline specified that the accident took place at 07:00 local time (05.00 GMT) at the main airport in the capital of Sudan, although the fighting between the two parties began at least two hours later.

Given the development of events, Saudi Airlines said in the note that he had decided to suspend all flights to and from Sudan until new notice.

“We are working with all the relevant authorities, led by the embassy of the kingdom in sudan, for more information on this incident.”the statement pointed out without giving more details or references to the events that the country is experiencing on this day.

In this line, the Egyptian company egyptair announced through its official Twitter account that it will temporarily suspend its flights to Khartoum airport, starting today for 72 hours due to “the unstable security situation in Sudan”.

On this issue, the president of the Sovereign Council of Sudan and leader of the Armed Forces, General Abdelfatah al-Burhanhe said today in an interview with the Qatari television channel of Al Jazeera that “the Rapid Support Forces They infiltrated the airport and burned some planes.”without specifying affected company.

In fact, at mid-morning this Saturday, the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces claimed they controlled Khartoum International Airport, the largest in Sudan.

On the other hand, the Sudan Doctors Union pointed out in a preliminary report that at least two citizens were killed this Saturday at the Khartoum airport and another was shot in al-obeidin the south of the African country.

These clashes take place two days after the Army warned that the country is going through a “dangerous juncture” that can lead to armed conflict, after “mobilize” units of the FAR in the Sudanese capital and other cities without the consent or coordination of the Armed Forces.

This mobilization occurred in the midst of negotiations to reach a definitive political agreement that would put an end to the 2021 coup and lead Sudan to a democratic transition, a pact whose signing has been postponed twice this April precisely because of the tensions and rivalries between the Army and the FAR.

The FAR emerged from the militias Janjawidaccused of committing crimes against humanity during the conflict of Darfur (2003-2008) and are led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagaloalias Hemedtiwho is considered the most powerful man around Sudan.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.