Created Monday, Oct 21st 2024 14:08Z, last updated Wednesday, Oct 23rd 2024 09:04Z
An unknown Ilyushin IL-76 freighter, registration ST-JAN performing a freight flight from Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) to Amdjarass (Chad) with 5 crew, was shot down by RSF (Rapid Support Forces) in Malha, North Dafur (Sudan) believing they had shot down an Antonov aircraft used by Sudan's military. The aircraft burned down, there were no survivors.
Sudan's Conflict Observatory reported evidence suggests the aircraft was carrying supplies for the RSF and was shot down by the RSF in error leaving a large impact crater at Malha, North Dafur, at about 04:00L (02:00Z), the aircraft was largely incinerated. The crew included a Kyrgyzstan engineer and a Russian crew member (the others not yet identified). North Dafur's RSF troops may not have been aware of secret night time flights coordinated in South Dafur, but were on the lookout for Sudan Army warplanes bombing North Dafur. The identity of the aircraft shot down is still unclear, however, a safety card found at the crash site shows the aircraft was an IL-76 belonging to New Way Cargo. It presumably departed from Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) where the airline operates a base for their aircraft.
Local media report based on documents found at the crash site that the aircraft departed Manas Airport in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and was bound for Amdjarass (Chad).
Malha is located about 200nm eastsoutheast of Amdjarass.
A Safety Card found at the crash site by RSF shows the aircraft belonged to New Way Cargo Airline with the tail number EX-76011. Kyrgyzstan's CAA however reported they had cancelled the registration on Jan 12th 2024 and issued an export certificate to Sudan, where the aircraft was re-registered as ST-JAN (the operator remaining unknown so far).
The New Way Cargo airline has its headquarters in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The crash site:
