Safetyman
1st Jul 2008, 14:14
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: (http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=50935)
Sudan orders Antonov aircraft ban
Sudan's president has ordered a ban on all Antonov and Ilyushin passenger and cargo aircraft following the latest crash near Khartoum, state media says.
President Omar al-Bashir also sacked the head of the country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and ordered an investigation into recent crashes.
The four Russian crew on the plane were killed in Monday's crash.
This was Sudan's fourth fatal plane crash in just two months. The ban does not, however, apply to military planes.
Sudan's rebel groups often accuse the military of using Antonov planes to drop bombs on villages in war-zones.
Soviet-era aircraft are commonly used to transport goods and passengers in many African countries, as they are far cheaper than newer models.
The CAA's Abdel Rahim said the Russian cargo plane was heading for the South Sudanese capital Juba but crashed "less than one kilometre or so from the airport".
The plane, which was reported to be an Ilyushin 76, crashed shortly after take-off, officials said.
The cargo plane took off just before 0700 local time (0400 GMT), but then experienced a problem with one of its wings and crashed at the end of the runway, according to witnesses.
Sudan has a poor reputation for air safety, especially on domestic flights.
About 30 people died earlier this month when a plane burst into flames after landing at Khartoum airport.
Sudan orders Antonov aircraft ban
Sudan's president has ordered a ban on all Antonov and Ilyushin passenger and cargo aircraft following the latest crash near Khartoum, state media says.
President Omar al-Bashir also sacked the head of the country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and ordered an investigation into recent crashes.
The four Russian crew on the plane were killed in Monday's crash.
This was Sudan's fourth fatal plane crash in just two months. The ban does not, however, apply to military planes.
Sudan's rebel groups often accuse the military of using Antonov planes to drop bombs on villages in war-zones.
Soviet-era aircraft are commonly used to transport goods and passengers in many African countries, as they are far cheaper than newer models.
The CAA's Abdel Rahim said the Russian cargo plane was heading for the South Sudanese capital Juba but crashed "less than one kilometre or so from the airport".
The plane, which was reported to be an Ilyushin 76, crashed shortly after take-off, officials said.
The cargo plane took off just before 0700 local time (0400 GMT), but then experienced a problem with one of its wings and crashed at the end of the runway, according to witnesses.
Sudan has a poor reputation for air safety, especially on domestic flights.
About 30 people died earlier this month when a plane burst into flames after landing at Khartoum airport.