A Sudanese Air Force fighter jet today crashed at El-Obeid Airport in North Kurdufan state, central Sudan, killing the pilot, according to a press release from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
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| A Sudanese Air Force MiG29 |
The unspecified airplane, returning from a mission, crashed as it attempted to land at
the airport, before catching fire and causing the death of the pilot, First
Lieutenant Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmad, "known for his skill and efficiency".
"Yes, it is a fighter plane that crashed in El Obeid and the pilot of the plane lost his life as a martyr," the Sudanese army spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Saad told AFP.
"The fighter plane had returned from a mission and faced technical problems when it tried to land. Then it crashed inside Obeid airport and burned."
Source [AFP]
A committee has been set up to probe the incident’s cause.
El Obeid, in North Kurdufan state, is a base for the Sudanese military
which is battling an insurgency in adjacent South Kordofan state.
Last week, Sudanese rebels shot down "a military Antonov plane" while it was bombing an area in western South Kordofan state, said a Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)-North spokesperson.
In a statement released on Monday, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi said that "their anti-aircraft machine guns had downed the airplane on Tuesday 11 December around 11h00L in Um Karisha area western South Kordofan."
Before downing it, the Antonov was said to have been bombing Um Dorrain location, he said.
In a statement released on Monday, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi said that "their anti-aircraft machine guns had downed the airplane on Tuesday 11 December around 11h00L in Um Karisha area western South Kordofan."
Before downing it, the Antonov was said to have been bombing Um Dorrain location, he said.