Breaking News: Saudia Airlines A330 Damaged in Accident at Khartoum Airport - Aviation for Aviators
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Breaking News: Saudia Airlines A330 Damaged in Accident at Khartoum Airport

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Last Update: 15 April 15:45 UTC

Saudia Airlines has confirmed that one of its A330 aircraft was involved in an accident at Khartoum International Airport on Saturday, April 15. The incident occurred just before the plane was scheduled to take off for Riyadh at 07:30 UTC. Following the accident, all flights to and from Sudan have been suspended until further notice.

In a recent press release, Saudia Airlines confirmed that one of its A330 aircraft, flight number SV458, was involved in an accident at Khartoum International Airport before taking off to Riyadh at 0730hrs UTC on Saturday, April 15. The damaged aircraft has been identified as HZ-AQ30, built in 2017, which arrived from Riyadh earlier. Another Saudia flight, SV451, HZ-AQ29, was close to landing in Khartoum but had to return to Jeddah due to the ongoing situation.

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According to reports, several aircraft, including the Saudia A330, and a SkyUp 737, UR-SQH, built in 2004, which arrived from Jeddah operating for Sun Air, were damaged at Khartoum Airport as Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces took control of the airport after days of tension in the country.

Via JACDEC on Twitter

The clashes between the military and the RSF have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in signing an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the country’s democratic transition.

Videos inside the airport show people lying on the floor as explosions and gunfire are exchanged outside the terminal building. Shocking images of the destroyed Saudia A330 on the tarmac have been circulating online. Saudia Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Sudan until further notice.

Video from inside the airport shows people lying on the floor as explosions and gunfire are exchanged outside the terminal building.

SAUDIA’s emergency team immediately responded to the accident, working alongside all relevant authorities, led by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Republic of Sudan, to obtain more information about the incident.

UPDATE

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Saudia Airlines has released a statement confirming that one of its A330 aircraft, flight number SV458, was damaged by gunfire at Khartoum International Airport while preparing for its scheduled departure to Riyadh. The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions in Sudan, leading to the airport being taken over by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

In an updated statement, the airline reported, “Following the security events in the Republic of Sudan, an aircraft belonging to SAUDIA was exposed to gunfire damage at Khartoum International Airport while preparing for its scheduled departure flight SV458 to Riyadh with guests and crew on board this morning.”

The airline has confirmed that all members of the aircraft’s cabin crew have safely arrived at the Saudi Embassy in Sudan. Aircraft flying over Sudan have returned, and all other flights to and from Sudan have been suspended to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Saudia Airlines is working closely with its emergency coordination center, cabin crew, airport staff, and the Saudi Embassy in Sudan to gather more information about the incident.

Shocking images of the damaged Saudia A330 have emerged, showing the extent of the damage caused by the gunfire. Another Saudia flight, #SV451 (HZ-AQ29), was close to landing in Khartoum but returned to Jeddah due to the ongoing situation at the airport.

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Saudia Airlines will continue to provide updates on the situation through supplementary statements as more information becomes available. In the meantime, passengers planning to travel to or from Sudan should stay vigilant and monitor the situation closely.

What is happening in Sudan?

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) declared that they had seized control of Khartoum International Airport as clashes erupted between Sudan’s paramilitary RSF and the army on Saturday.

Numerous flights have been canceled at Khartoum Airport, with data from Flightradar24.com showing that flights operated by Flynas, flydubai, Egyptair, and Saudia, among others, have been affected.

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Several airlines, including Emirates, flydubai, Air Arabia, Egyptair, flynas, flyadeal and Saudia, have canceled flights to Sudan due to the deteriorating situation of civil unrest in Khartoum. Emirates and flydubai flights to and from Khartoum have been canceled from April 15th to 17th, while Air Arabia and the three Saudi carriers: Saudia, flynas, and flyadeal announced the suspension of all flights to and from Sudan until further notice.. Egyptair‘s suspension of services to Sudan will remain in effect for 72 hours or until further notice, depending on the situation in the country.

Social media footage shows Sudan’s RSF storming Khartoum International Airport with their vehicles and members carrying firearms through the passenger terminals. Khartoum International Airport is the main base for Sudan’s flag carrier, Sudan Airways, which currently operates an Airbus A320 aircraft. According to Flightradar24.com data, Sudan Airways’ Airbus A320 departed for Jeddah from Khartoum but did not return.

In a statement on Twitter, Sudan’s paramilitary announced that it also took control of Merowe Airport (MWE) and the military base. The recent incidents have raised concerns for Sudanese aviation, which had high hopes for the future with the launch of new routes and carriers, such as Badr Airlines’ flights between Khartoum and London Gatwick and the addition of Air Arabia Sudan.

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We will continue to follow this breaking news story and provide updates on our platform as they become available. Stay tuned for more information on this developing situation.

Youssef is the president and founder of Aviation for Aviators; in addition to his role as Chief-in-Editor of the platform's website, Youssef is currently pursuing an engineering degree at Nile University in Egypt. With his unique blend of passion, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit, Youssef is passionate about combining these traits with aviation to provide a unique resource for aviation enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Air Crash

Two Colombian Air Force Pilots Die in Embraer Tucano Aircraft Collision

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Colombian Air Force
Image via Fuerza Aérea Colombiana on Twitter

The Colombian Air Force (FAC) is investigating a tragic accident that occurred during a training mission on Saturday, resulting in the loss of two pilots. Two Embraer T-27 Tucano aircraft collided mid-air and crashed during the exercise in central Colombia. The FAC has not released the identity of the second pilot, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.

Video footage of the accident has surfaced on Twitter, showing the aircraft bursting into flames before plummeting to the ground. The FAC confirmed the death of Lieutenant Colonel Mario Andrés Espinosa González, who was in command of one of the Tucano planes. He was scheduled to perform an aerobatic show at this year’s Aeronautical Fair in Rionegro, Antioquia.

Investigation into the Cause of the Collision

The FAC has sent an inspection commission to the crash site to investigate the cause of the accident. The air force expressed condolences to González’s family and colleagues, describing the incident as “unfortunate.”

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Preparing for the Aeronautical Fair

The pilots were likely training for the upcoming Aeronautical Fair, which will take place from July 12th to 16th. The FAC had planned to send a squadron of six aircraft, five pilots, a security officer, and five technicians to the event. The Brazilian-built Tucano aircraft have been part of the FAC’s fixed-wing military pilot training program for many years and have logged tens of thousands of safe flight hours.

The squadron was set to perform aerobatic shows ranging from 30 to 35 minutes at the Aeronautical Fair. The FAC had previously announced that the Tucano planes would perform highly complex maneuvers, including inverted flights, 360-degree turns, high-speed crossings, and rapid turns in promotion.

Colombian Air Force
Image via Fuerza Aérea Colombiana on Twitter

Final Words

The tragic incident has shocked the Colombian Air Force and the aviation community. The cause of the accident remains unknown, and the investigation is ongoing. The loss of the two pilots is a reminder of the risks that military pilots face every day in their service to their country. Our thoughts and condolences go out to their families and colleagues during this difficult time.

Also, you might be interested in reading: Plane Crashes in Virginia After Pilot Passes Out

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Plane Crashes in Virginia After Pilot Passes Out

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A private jet crashed in a mountainous region in Virginia on June 4th, 2023 after flying over a restricted airspace in Washington D.C. There were no survivors among four people onboard the aircraft.

Details 

Credit: Wikipedia

The plane, a Cessna 560 Citation V, belonged to a company owned by multi-millionaire John Rumpel and was registered N611VG. Rumpel stated that the passengers onboard were his family members, including his daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter.

The aircraft took off at 1:15pm local time from Elizabethton, Tennessee and was en route to Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York when the air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilot. The pilot was unresponsive to calls from air traffic control 15 minutes after departure. 

Presumably on autopilot, the private jet flew over its destination at 34,000ft and turned around and started heading back to its origin in a straight line. 

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During its autopilot cruise back to Elizabethton, the aircraft entered restricted airspace over Washington D.C., which prompted government officials to scramble six F-16 fighters to intercept the aircraft. The F-16 fighters caused sonic booms on the way to intercept the private jet, which alerted many residents over the Washington D.C. area.

Upon reaching the ill-fated private jet, pilots from the F-16 fighter jets observed that the pilot of the private plane was passed out at the controls. The F-16s tried to alert the pilot by firing flares, but all attempts were futile. 

The private jet continued cruising towards its origin until it ran out of fuel and crashed into a rural, mountainous region in Virginia. 

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Credit: CNN News

Cause of the Crash

The FAA and NTSB are currently investigating the incident and have not provided an explanation for the crash; however, it is likely that the plane experienced a loss of cabin pressure shortly after takeoff, as evident by the unconscious state of the pilot. The people onboard would have experienced hypoxia from a lack of oxygen and would have been unaware of the entire event.


Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Virginia_plane_crash

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/05/us/virginia-plane-crash-fighter-jets-investigation-monday/index.html

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-crash-virginia-4-died-military-jet-sonic-boom-faa/

Cover Image: NBC News Washington

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INCIDENT: Two Airbus A330s Collide on Ground at Tokyo Haneda Airport

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Taipei Connections/MAINICHI/The Asahi Shimbun

On a fateful day at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a serious incident occurred involving two Airbus A330 passenger jets. The Japanese transport ministry reported that the Thai Airways Airbus A330-300 (registration HS-TEO) and Eva Air Airbus A330-300 (registration B-16340) collided near a taxiway. The mishap took place as Thai flight #TG683, en route to Bangkok, taxied alongside Eva Air flight #BR189, bound for Taipei. Unfortunately, the incident occurred just before the planes were to line up on runway 16R at Tokyo-Haneda Airport.

The Thai Airways plane sustained noticeable damage, with its winglet appearing to be broken. Fragments from the collision were scattered near the runway, raising concerns about the severity of the impact. In response, authorities from the Tokyo airport office promptly dispatched officials to the scene to investigate the incident thoroughly.

Taipei Connections/MAINICHI/The Asahi Shimbun

To ensure the safety of all personnel involved and prevent further mishaps, the runway close to the accident site was temporarily closed. Such precautions are crucial in order to assess the situation accurately and prevent any potential hazards that may arise from the damaged aircraft.

As a result of this collision, flight operations at the airport were disrupted, causing delays for several domestic and international flights. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, two prominent airlines operating at Tokyo Haneda Airport, were among those affected by the incident.

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Taipei Connections/MAINICHI/The Asahi Shimbun

Safety remains the top priority, and investigations into the causes and circumstances surrounding the collision are expected to shed light on any lapses or oversights that may have contributed to this unfortunate event.

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