UAE plane shot down in Sudan: Russian crew among the dead
In conflict-torn Sudan, an Il-76 aircraft belonging to the United Arab Emirates, with a partially Russian crew, was shot down.
7:47 PM EDT, October 21, 2024
The Mash channel on Telegram reports that the plane was shot down by rebels from the pro-government paramilitary organization Sudanese Rapid Support Forces. The wreckage of the aircraft fell to the ground in Darfur, located in western Sudan.
According to media reports, the plane was mistakenly targeted. Fighting between opposing pro-government forces and their opponents continues in the area of the crash. Social media platforms have displayed recordings and photos of the burning wreckage.
Documents of Russians at the crash site
Recordings also show documents found at the crash site belonging to Russians. The deaths of Russian citizens have reportedly been confirmed by the Russian embassy in Sudan.
"One of the deceased is Viktor Granov, the chief engineer of Airline Transport Incorporation FZC, a company based in the United Arab Emirates and linked to Kyrgyzstan. The certificate also bears the information 'Manas International Airport,' which is the main international airport of Kyrgyzstan," reports the Kremlin agency TASS.
The Russian Embassy in Sudan noted that the situation is complicated by the fact that the location of the wreckage is in war-torn Darfur.
Russian media indicate that the plane was chartered by the United Arab Emirates and was based precisely at Manas International Airport. On board was likely aid sent from the United Arab Emirates to Chad.
