2012 Talodi Antonov An-26 crash
{{Short description|Aviation accident in Sudan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| image = Alfa Airlines Antonov An-26-100 UR-SDV-1.jpg
| image_upright = 1.1
| alt =
| caption = ST-ARL, the An-26 involved, pictured a month before the accident
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date = {{start date|2012|08|19|df=y}}
| summary = Controlled flight into terrain due to poor weather conditions and pilot error
| site = Nuba Mountains near Talodi, Sudan
| coordinates = {{coord|10|38|11|N|30|22|47|E|type:event|display = inline,title}}
| aircraft_type = Antonov An-26-100
| aircraft_name =
| operator = Alfa Airlines
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| callsign =
| tail_number = ST-ARL
| origin = Khartoum International Airport, Khartoum, Sudan
| stopover =
| destination = Talodi Airstrip, Talodi, Sudan
| occupants = 32
| passengers = 26
| crew = 6
| fatalities = 32
| survivors = 0
}}
On 19 August 2012, an Antonov An-26 airplane of Alfa Airlines crashed near the town of Talodi, Sudan, killing all 32 occupants on board. The aircraft was carrying a Sudanese government delegation, and among the victims were members of the Sudanese government, several high-ranking members of the Sudanese Armed Forces and other officials, and a television crew.
Crash
The aircraft had taken off from Khartoum International Airport at around 6:02 a.m. local time.{{cite news |title=Sudan Plane Crash Kills Government Minister, Scores of Senior Officials |url=http://www.nycaviation.com/2012/08/sudan-plane-crash-kills-government-minister-scores-of-senior-officials/ |agency=BNO News |work=NYCAviation |date=20 August 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012}} Approximately at 8 a.m., the plane crashed into the Hajar Al-Nar Mountain{{cite news |url=http://www.sunanews.net/english-latest-news/25095-presidency-of-the-republic-eulogizes-minister-of-guidance-and-endowments-.html |title=Presidency of the Republic Eulogizes Minister of Guidance and Endowments |work=Sudan News Agency SUNA |date=19 August 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514065015/http://www.sunanews.net/english-latest-news/25095-presidency-of-the-republic-eulogizes-minister-of-guidance-and-endowments-.html |archive-date=14 May 2013 |url-status=dead }} of the Nuba Mountain range near Talodi, a small town about {{cvt|600|km}} southwest of Khartoum. A television statement said that the weather had prevented the aircraft from landing on its first attempt, and on its second attempt, the plane crashed into a mountain after a go-around procedure. Talodi airfield features a single paved, unmarked runway of 1800 m (5900 ft) length.{{cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=454807ea&opt=0|title=Crash: Alfa Airlines AN26 near Talodi on Aug 19th 2012, impacted mountain during go-around|work=The Aviation Herald|date=19 August 2012|accessdate=20 August 2012}}
Aircraft
Although some early media reports mistakenly announced the crash as a helicopter crash,{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/19/sudan-helicopter-crash-ki_n_1806749.html|title=Sudan Helicopter Crash Kills 32, Deaths Include Government Officials And Generals|work=The Huffington Post|date=19 August 2012|accessdate=19 August 2012|author=Osman, Mohamed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820143216/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/19/sudan-helicopter-crash-ki_n_1806749.html|archive-date=20 August 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Osman|first=Mohamed|title=Sudanese helicopter crash kills 32|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/middle-east/2012/08/19/sudan-plane-crash-south-kills-all-board/G9OK3yIJm8Uxdf8FdGGzGJ/story.html|accessdate=20 August 2012|newspaper=Boston.com|date=20 August 2012|agency=AP}} the aircraft involved was a twin turboprop Antonov An-26-100, registration ST-ARL, chartered by the Sudanese Government and operated by the Sudanese private air carrier Alfa Airlines (ICAO code AAJ).{{cite web |date=19 August 2012 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 26 ST-ARL Talodi |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/320887 |access-date=19 August 2012 |work=Aviation Safety Network}}
The aircraft was built in 1974 at the Ukrainian "Aviant" aircraft plant in the Soviet Union. It flew on Soviet and Russian regional routes until July 1998. It was sold to an Armenian air carrier, and then to Trans Attico, Air Libya, Ababeel Aviation, and other air companies in Africa. It was acquired by Alfa Airlines in July 2009 and was modified from Antonov An-26 to Antonov An-26-100 standard at the 410 Aircraft Repair Plant in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.scramble.nl/database/soviet/details/27_19840|title=An-26-100 c/n 2606|website=Soviet Transport Database |accessdate=29 January 2025}}
There have been several deadly plane crashes in Sudan in recent years. All Sudanese airlines, including Alfa Airlines, are banned for safety reasons from flying in European airspace.{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf |title=List of air carriers of which all operations are subject to a ban within the EU |date=3 April 2012 |publisher=European Commission |accessdate=21 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430124922/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf |archivedate=30 April 2011 }} The Sudanese authorities complain that it is difficult to get spare parts because of sanctions the United States has imposed against Khartoum. This crash was the first accident in the history of Alfa Airlines, which was founded only in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.aviation-safety.net/database/operator/airline.php?var=8704 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225033029/http://aviation-safety.net/database/operator/airline.php?var=8704 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 December 2011 |title=Alfa Airlines |work=Aviation Safety Network |accessdate=21 August 2012}}
Passengers and crew
| class="wikitable sortable floatright" | |||
| Nationality | Passengers | Crew | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudan | 26 | 3 | 29 |
| Armenia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Russia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Tajikistan | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| class="sortbottom"
| {{Noflag|Total}} | 26 | 6 | 32 |
The chartered plane was carrying a Sudanese government delegation, from the capital of the country, Khartoum, to the town of Talodi in South Kordofan, a war-torn state with ongoing fighting between Sudan's army and rebel groups,{{cite web| url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201281975853839515.html|title=Sudan officials killed in plane crash| publisher=Al Jazeera|date=19 August 2012|accessdate=19 August 2012}} for an Eid al-Fitr celebration, to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19310609 |title=Sudan crash: Minister Ghazi al-Sadiq Abdel Rahim dies |work=BBC News |date=19 August 2012 |accessdate=19 August 2012}}
Among the victims were Guidance and Religious Endowments Minister Ghazi al-Sadiq Abdel Rahim.{{cite news |url=http://www.sunanews.net/english-latest-news/25118-martyrdom-of-32-persons-in-plane-crash-in-taludi-area.html |title=Martyrdom of 32 Persons in Plane Crash in Taludi Area |work=Sudan News Agency SUNA |date=19 August 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514065008/http://www.sunanews.net/english-latest-news/25118-martyrdom-of-32-persons-in-plane-crash-in-taludi-area.html |archive-date=14 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}
The aircraft, with a crew of six, was flown by senior Russian captain Gennady Semenov,{{cite web |date=20 August 2012 |title= |script-title=ru:Об авиакатастрофе в Судане |trans-title=About the plane crash in Sudan |url=http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/newsline/87294C16B715FAF644257A6000513ECA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://webcitation.org/6BmAYxqB0?url=http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/newsline/87294C16B715FAF644257A6000513ECA |archive-date=29 October 2012 |accessdate=20 August 2012 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation |language=Russian}}{{Cite web |date=2012-08-20 |title=Капитаном разбившегося в Судане самолета был россиянин |trans-title=The captain of the plane that crashed in Sudan was a Russian |url=https://rg.ru/2012/08/20/samolet-anons.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730012322/http://www.rg.ru/2012/08/20/samolet-anons.html |archive-date=2013-07-30 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Rossiyskaya Gazeta |language=ru}} assisted by a Sudanese first officer, 43-year-old navigator Koshim Akram from Tajikistan,{{Cite web |date=2012-08-21 |title=Погибший в авиакрушении в Судане гражданин Таджикистана был штурманом |trans-title=A citizen of Tajikistan who died in a plane crash in Sudan was a navigator |url=https://ria.ru/20120821/727874301.html |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6BmAaO8zy?url=http://ria.ru/world/20120821/727874301.html |archive-date=2012-10-29 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=RIA Novosti |language=ru}} and 42-year-old Armenian flight engineer Armen Virabyan.{{cite news |date=21 August 2012 |title= |script-title=ru:МИД Армении и Таджикистана подтвердили гибель своих граждан в авиакатастрофе в Судане |trans-title=The Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Tajikistan confirmed the death of their citizens in a plane crash in Sudan |url=http://www.mk.ru/incident/news/2012/08/21/738903-mid-armenii-i-tadzhikistana-podtverdili-gibel-svoih-grazhdan-v-aviakatastrofe-v-sudane.html |accessdate=21 August 2012 |newspaper=Moskovskij Komsomolets |language=Russian |agency=RIA Novosti}}{{Cite web |date=2012-08-21 |title=МИД подтвердил гибель гражданина Армении в авиакатастрофе в Судане |trans-title=The Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of an Armenian citizen in a plane crash in Sudan |url=https://ria.ru/20120821/727871186.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://webcitation.org/6BmAh9iqw?url=http://ria.ru/world/20120821/727871186.html |archive-date=2012-10-29 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=RIA Novosti |language=ru}}
Investigation
An official with Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority said that bad weather was responsible for the crash.{{cite web| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443855804577598721681138812|title=Sudan Helicopter Crash Kills 32|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=19 August 2012|accessdate=19 August 2012|author=Bariyo, Nicholas}} The official news agency of Sudan, SUNA, also said the crash happened "due to the bad weather conditions". Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Osman also added that the plane was attempting to land in bad weather conditions in Talodi, as seasonal heavy rains left the pilots with "zero visibility,"{{cite web| url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/32-confirmed-dead-in-sudan-crash-563590.html|title=32 confirmed dead in Sudan crash|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=19 August 2012|accessdate=19 August 2012}} when it crashed into a mountain.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/world/africa/sudan-official-is-killed-in-crash.html|title=Sudanese Official Among 32 Killed in Plane Crash|work=The New York Times|date=19 August 2012|accessdate=19 August 2012}}
Two days after the accident, rebels officially announced their role in shooting down the aircraft.{{cite web|url=https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-antonov-26-100-talodi-32-killed|title=CRASH OF AN ANTONOV AN-26-100 IN TALODI: 32 KILLED|publisher=BAAA}} Later, rebel spokesman Arnu Ngutulu Lodi denied that his rebel forces were involved with the crash, which happened outside of rebel territory.{{cite web |author=Ali |first=Abdelmoneim Abu Edris |date=19 August 2012 |title=Sudan minister among 32 dead in Eid plane crash |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5job9jfpEMQZwnmNbbWXAaastHtWg?docId=CNG.a3597e9bb5b445427f0184f8af43e3f8.11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124203211/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5job9jfpEMQZwnmNbbWXAaastHtWg?docId=CNG.a3597e9bb5b445427f0184f8af43e3f8.11 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |accessdate=19 August 2012 |publisher=AFP}}
Two days after the crash, on 21 August, Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) chief Mohammad Abdul-Aziz tendered his resignation to the President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir.{{cite news |title=Sudan's aviation authority chief resigns over plane crash |url=http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2258629&language=en |work=Kuwait News Agency KUNA |date=21 August 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012}} However, President Bashir rejected his resignation, urging the chief to continue a newly approved program of reforms to the development and supervision of the CAA.{{cite news |title=Sudan president rejects resignation of aviation chief |url=http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2258910&language=en |work=Kuwait News Agency KUNA |date=23 August 2012 |accessdate=23 August 2012}}
On 24 August, the local government reported the flight recorders have been found and recovered from the crash site.
Official investigation confirmed that visibility was low at the time of the accident due to poor weather and low clouds. It was therefore concluded that the accident was "the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew descended too low."
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2012}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Sudan}}
{{Disasters}}
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Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2012
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Sudan
Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Antonov An-26
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving controlled flight into terrain