Cargo plane crash in Sudan kills 4

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — A cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff Monday from Khartoum's airport, killing all four Russian crew members aboard.

It was the second plane crash in Sudan in a week and the third this month.

The plane hit an electricity pole shortly after takeoff and then crashed into an empty field, bursting into flames, said Sudan's state Omdurman radio.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, said Abdel Hafez Abdel Rahim, a spokesman for the country's civil aviation authority. The plane hit the electricity pole as it was already crashing, he said.

The plane's blackened tail landed just a few yards from a group of apartment buildings. Youssef Yacoub, a security guard at a nearby building, said the plane was already on fire as it plunged down.

"There was smoke at its tail. It crashed and then blew up about 10 minutes later," Yacoub said.

Sudan, Africa's largest country, has a poor aviation safety record and many small airlines that crisscross its sprawling terrain. Three years ago, the government said it planned to build a new airport in Khartoum by 2010 but that remains in the planning phase.

The head of Sudanese police, Gen. Mohammad Najib, told The Associated Press there should be an inquiry into the recurring plane crashes.

"This is something that must be looked at closely," he said.

The four crew members were believed to be Russian, said Abdel Rahim. The plane was headed for the south Sudanese capital of Juba. Its cargo was not immediately known.

UN-operated Miraya Radio said the Ilyushin 76 plane belonged to a private Sudanese company, Ababiel.

On Saturday, seven people were killed and one survived when a Russian-made Antonov plane operated by Juba Cargo crashed in southern Sudan. Earlier in June, an Airbus A310 caught fire after touching down at Khartoum's airport, killing 30 people on board. Another 178 escaped.



Status: Preliminary
Date: 30 JUN 2008
Type: Ilyushin 76TD
Operator: Ababeel Aviation
Registration: ST-WTB ?
C/n / msn: 1003499994
First flight:
Crew: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Airplane damage: Destroyed
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: 1 km (0.6 mls) S of Khartoum-Civil Airport (KRT) (Sudan)
Phase: Takeoff (TOF)
Nature: Cargo
Departure airport: Khartoum-Civil Airport (KRT/HSSS), Sudan
Destination airport: Juba Airport (JUB/HSSJ), Sudan
Narrative:
Crashed on takeoff. Witnesses reported seeing an engine on fire.

(aviation-safety.net)

Fonte: Flight Safety Information 30/06/2008