Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on April 17 show damaged airplanes at the airport in Sudan where the attempted coup occurred. One of the charred aircraft at the airport is a Boeing 737 from Ukraine’s SkyUp airline. Following days of tension in Khartoum, clashes between the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have resulted in an ongoing military coup in Sudan. Witnesses report armored vehicles in the streets and fighter jets in the sky.
According to The New York Times, as of April 17, 20 aircraft at the airport were either severely damaged or destroyed. Among them was a SkyUp Boeing 737 that caught fire on April 15 during the coup attempt. The airline previously ran flights from Sudan to Saudi Arabia and Egypt in early 2023. SkyUp stated that the emergency locator beacon on the damaged aircraft was activated, and its condition cannot be assessed at present.
Meanwhile, SkyUp employees in Sudan are safe, and the Ukrainian Honorary Consulate in Sudan is looking after the crew. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies reports of Ukrainians being taken hostage and warns its citizens not to visit Sudan due to the security situation. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, is battling Sudanese military units loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads Sudan’s transitional governing Sovereign Council.
Plans for merging the RSF with the regular army have fallen apart, leading to the RSF’s claim to have captured the Merowe Air Base, which accommodated an unspecified number of Egyptian Air Force MiG-29M/M2 jets. One MiG-29M/M2 was lost during the base’s capture, and more aircraft were probably seriously damaged. Reports also suggest that one of Sudan’s six FTC-2000 light combat aircraft/jet trainers, newly acquired Chinese-built planes, was destroyed.
In addition, a US Embassy convoy was attacked in Sudan, allegedly by the Rapid Support Forces, who are using heavy weaponry in urban areas. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for an immediate ceasefire and discussions to restore a civilian-led administration in Sudan.