Civilian plane shot down by missile in Sudan, no survivors

Civilian plane shot down by missile in Sudan. (Source: Sudan War Monitor)

TASS quoted the statement of the commander of the Sudanese Rapid Reaction Force (RSF) saying that this force shot down an Egyptian IL-76 cargo plane with a shoulder-fired missile early on October 21.

According to RSF's statement, the plane was mistakenly shot down because it was suspected to be a military plane. When it crashed, the IL-76 was believed to be carrying Russian citizens.

The incident occurred in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Initial reports said there were no survivors and that most of the plane was burned after it crashed.

Photos and videos posted on social media from the scene showed debris that appeared to be from an IL-76 transport plane and a Russian passport.

Another post by the Sudan Conflict Monitor showed that an employee ID card for the UAE-based FZE Air Transport Group was issued to a Russian named Viktor Granov.

Meanwhile, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo accused Egypt of interfering in the conflict in western Sudan by allowing civilian cargo planes to reach the area.

Earlier, the Russian Embassy in Sudan said it was investigating the cause of the crash of a plane that was likely carrying Russian citizens. According to the embassy, "the investigation is complicated by the fact that the crash site is in Darfur, an area of ongoing conflict."

The conflict between the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and the RSF has been going on since 2023. The RSF broke off peace talks earlier this month and vowed to fight to the end.

The area where the IL-76 was shot down has been the scene of fierce fighting between the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and the RSF since 2023. (Graphic photo: AP)

RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo has previously accused Egypt of bombing his forces in support of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese Sovereignty Council accused the UAE of smuggling weapons to the RSF, which the UAE has denied.

A US-funded NGO said that IL-76 transport planes based in the UAE carried the weapons to Amjarass in neighboring Chad, from where they were handed over to the RSF.

However, the UAE denied this information and said the flights to Amjarass were carrying supplies to a field hospital, set up to treat many Sudanese refugees.

Tra Khanh (Source: TASS)

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