At least 46 people have lost their lives and 10 others have been injured following the crash of a Sudanese military plane in a residential area of Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, according to state media reports.

The Russian-built Antonov aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from the military’s Wadi Seidna air base on Tuesday evening.

The exact cause of the crash, which resulted in the deaths of both military personnel and civilians, remains unclear; however, military sources have suggested that it was likely due to a technical malfunction.

The crash occurred the day after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), currently at war with the army, claimed responsibility for downing a fighter jet in South Darfur.

The ongoing conflict has severely affected extensive areas of Sudan, including Khartoum and Omdurman, leaving thousands of people dead and approximately 12 million displaced.

Following the plane crash on Tuesday, the health ministry confirmed that emergency response teams quickly transported the injured civilians, including children, to a nearby hospital.

Among the fatalities was a high-ranking army officer in Khartoum, as sources within the military have reported.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and observed damage to several homes upon the plane’s impact, according to the AFP news agency.

The crash also led to power outages in nearby neighborhoods.

Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war since April 2023, ignited by a brutal power struggle between the army and the RSF, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties and millions displaced from their homes.

The war has effectively divided the nation, with the army exercising control over the north and east, and the RSF presiding over most of the Darfur region in the west and certain areas of the south.

In the past few weeks, the army has made significant strides in reclaiming parts of Khartoum and nearby regions from the RSF.