SKY News is just reporting that a Sudanese airliner has crashed, with 116 on board. No further info, but more to follow.

Beat me too it by 30 second. Here are a couple of links but not much information.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030708/ap_on_re_mi_ea/sudan_plane_crash&cid=540&ncid=716

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,91290,00.html

A 737.....

geez....... i hope not another unintended rudder movement or whatever else they've had problems with.


bruce

737-200, taking off from Port Sudan, on the Red Sea Coast, en route to Khartoum.

JP shows only one 732 operated, ST-AFK, L/N 429, delivered 1975.

Although I know that more than 116 died today on US raods, I will pray for those lost, and their families, tonight.

And, Bruce, I also hopethe cause is not uncommanded rudder movement but is matters not to several thousand tonight.
 
Vaya con dios.

From what FoxNews.com said, there was only one survivor, a child. Sounds like NW 255 where only one child survived as well. Very odd how 116 people can die, and yet one person is stated to be in "good" condition.

Perhaps we might thank our respective deities that 1 survived? If true that will be great news. Telling many that there loved ones died would take the juice out of anyone, being able to tell someone that the child they love is alive, would be pure gold.

Doubt the rudder had much to do with it since the crash was reported to have happened on takeoff.

Perhaps an engine failure? Sad news  

Most tragic  

A child survived.

MSNBC

Perhaps we might thank our respective deities that 1 survived? If true that will be great news. Telling many that there loved ones died would take the juice out of anyone, being able to tell someone that the child they love is alive, would be pure gold.

What about the child. He or she may have lost both his/her parents or even entire family in the crash. Either way (s)he will allways live with the trauma of not only a fiery crash but also of being the SOLE survivor. I don't know why I should thank god for such a crewl joke that he played on this child....

Very sad indeed.

My thoughts are with the bereaved families.


Srilankan_340

What were the nationalities onboard, any foreigners? here's the aircraft, may they all rest in peace-ameen.

View Large View Medium

Photo © Tim Rees

And it was this palne who crashed according to airdisaster.com:
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=31532

Norwegian Broadcasting, NRK,(http://www.nrk.no) reports that Sudan Radio reports that it was a B737-200 and 105 passengers and 11 crewmembers are dead.
11 crew on a B737-200??

the trauma of not only a fiery crash but also of being the SOLE survivor.


I don't know about you but i would thank my god for the rest of my life if i was the sole survivor of anything. Sure, loosing your family is hell but i would personally rather survive than die in a crash like that. The child will meet his/her family in due time. Everyone will.

From what FoxNews.com said, there was only one survivor, a child.

Belgian news reports that the child is 2 years old and indeed the only survivor.

Regards, SN-A330

Heisan67, airdisaster.com only stated that

A Sudan Airways Boeing 737-200 jetliner, identical to the aircraft which crashed on July 8, 2003, is seen in this January, 2003 photo.

It's not necessarily this registration but the same aircraft type

Belgian news also says that the 737-200 reported engine problems before he crashed and was on it's return to the airport. All this, shortly after take off.

Regards, SN-A330

Sudan Airways had three 737-200s; their own ST-AFK, built in 1975 and 2 leased from Tunis Air TS-IOE and TS-IOF both in full colours and built in 1981. I think it's likely it was one of the Tunisian birds, as these are seen more often lately. Their own 'AFK is older and noisier and might be parked already. But again; only guessing, wait for official reports of the identity.

The plane's captain reported technical problems with the aircraft shortly before it crashed in a desolate area about five kilometres (three miles) away from Port Sudan airport, Sudanese radio said.

"The plane took off this morning. Minutes later the pilot contacted [airport officials] to say there were difficulties and that he would return to the airport in Port Sudan," Sudan's minister of state for aviation, Mohammed Hassan al-Bahi, told the station.

"The plane crashed while trying to land at the airport."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3053490.stm

It's always even more scary when you've seen the plane with your own eyes before. I saw TS-IOE at IST on Jan 2 this year, and took some night shots...

Konstantin

That's very sad - 116 dead. May those who died rest in peace and their loved ones come to terms with their loss. It is a miracle that the child survived - he would certainly be thankful for that once he realizes that fact.

TrintoCan.

MEA-707 wrote:
Sudan Airways had three 737-200s; their own ST-AFK, built in 1975 and 2 leased from Tunis Air TS-IOE and TS-IOF both in full colours and built in 1981.
----

Did they all have gravel-runway kits (at some time or currently)?

According to Agence France Press, there were 8 foreigners on board including 3 from India, 1 from Ethiopia, 1 from China, 1 from Emirates. Who were the other two?

There was one citizen of the U.A.E. the article says.. UAE=United Arab Emirates.
11 crew members on a 737-200????????
-UN

And it must be pretty dense with 116 seats in a 732.

How in the world can a child survive and be in "good condition" from such a fiery crash and subsequent fire?

I think it's likely it was one of the Tunisian birds


Nope. I've had confirmation that the crashed aircraft is ST-AFK, owned by Sudan Airways.

ABC News Australia

Sudan's air defence chief among victims in plane crash

The head of Sudan's air defence forces as well as at least seven foreigners are among the 115 people killed in an airline crash near Port Sudan, a senior official said.

Sudan Airways spokesman Jalal Mahmud al-Ajab says Major General Nur al-Hoda Fadlallah died when the Boeing 737 came down near Port Sudan where the anti-aircraft command is based.

A two-year-old girl miraculously survived the crash and was taken to a nearby hospital.

It is not yet clear whether her parents were on board.

The bodies of the dead were swiftly buried in keeping with the Muslim tradition.

The pilot of the Boeing 737 reported a technical failure a few minutes after taking off at about 4:00am local time from the Red Sea town of Port Sudan in the north-east, heading towards Khartoum, state radio said.

The plane crashed just a few kilometres away from Port Sudan airport as it returned in an attempt to land.

Residents of Port Sudan fearing for their loved ones rushed to the airport and gathered in nearby areas waiting for news.

Residents of Khartoum made frantic checks to see if family or friends might have been on board.

A Sudan Airways employee said 104 passengers and 11 crew were killed.

Identification efforts began shortly after the crash, but it was unclear how many bodies had been identified.

The names on the passenger manifest, which included 17 children, were read out on Sudanese television.

Sudanese TV said the bodies of the victims were laid to rest in a mass grave in Port Sudan, about 700 kilometres north-east of the capital.

Local government officials issued a decree calling for the immediate burial of the dead.

Minister of State for Aviation Mohamed Hassan al-Bahi said on state radio that a committee had been formed to investigate the crash.

The Austrian TV is reporting that the child had passed away too (at hospital?).
Another terrible disaster...

RIP

Now it is reported that the child, a boy, survived but lost a leg...

 

RJ100

@ Unique: There were also French people aboard.

Regards,
RJ100

The Sudanese government is also blaming the US for sanctions which resulted in a lack of spare parts.

Sudan's regime is among those suspected of links with terrorist groups and has long been viewed as hostile by the US.

The state of a 28 year old 737-200, with limited access to spare parts (and I don't want to cast aspersions, but I'm guessing repair facilities at KRT/Sudanese government oversight aren't in the same class as the Lufthansas of this world) can only be guessed.

As repported now. Sad.

Flyboy36y, I truly cannot believe that you wrote what you did. My initial response was to tear you a new ***hole but then I realized the bitterness you feel. I'll just pray to God that your hatred will pass.

For God's sake boy! A child survived!. Would you be happier if he had died? Lost a leg but alive and has a future. And people that cry tears of loss and yet tears of joy. A joy that I hope you will one day understand. Grow up child! Learn to rejoice in the positive and reject the negative and you may just grow up to be a happier person.

Guess I couldn't resist a mild ripping. Sometimes the negativity here really yanks my chain.

Note to crew. If this was too much, feel free to delete at will.