Thirteen killed in Sudan plane crash

on 07/10/2012 14:42:03

A military transport aircraft has crashed near the Sudanese capital Khartoum after a mechanical failure, killing 13 people on board.

The country's state news agency said nine people survived after the plane went down today about 25 miles south west of Omdurman.

Sudanese military spokesman Colonel Sawarmy Khalid said the Antonov 12 was transporting military personnel and equipment to Darfur. He said the pilot reported the aircraft's two engines had failed.

Sudan has a poor aviation safety record, with a large number of accidents. A Sudanese helicopter carrying a government delegation crashed in August, killing all 32 people on board including a minister.

Sudan's government has been battling rebel groups in Darfur since 2003. More than 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict.