Sudanese evacuation plane shot down on landing in Khartoum: Turkish carrier attacked by paramilitaries despite ceasefire

A Turkish evacuation plane was shot down by paramilitary forces in Sudan when it landed in the capital Khartoum today, damaging fuel supplies.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fired on the plane at the Wadi Saeedna airbase, the military said, in a sign of how dangerous the situation is for those scrambling to evacuate civilians from the war-torn country.

The plane landed safely after paramilitaries opened fire and is being repaired, the Sudanese military said.

Earlier reports claimed one crew member was injured in the attack, but Turkey’s defense ministry said there were no injuries and confirmed that the plane had been fired upon.

The RSF denied firing on the plane and said the military was “spreading lies”, adding: “Our forces have been strictly adhering to the humanitarian ceasefire we agreed to since midnight and it is not true that we entered the air a plane doesn’t fly… from Wadi Seyidna in Omdurman.’

Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fired on the plane (pictured) at Wadi Saeedna airbase, the military said

The plane was able to land safely after paramilitaries opened fire and is being repaired (pictured), the Sudanese military said

Earlier reports claimed a crew member was injured in the attack, but Turkey’s defense ministry said there were no injuries, while it confirmed the plane had been shot at.

Thousands of desperate civilians – including around 3,000 Britons – are scrambling to board the last evacuation planes out of the capital before the fragile ceasefire expires in 72 hours.

But with massive explosions and gunfire rocking parts of the capital – and evacuation planes being shot at – the situation has become even more desperate for those still trapped in Sudan.

There are no signs that evacuation flights will be halted over the renewed threat of violence on the runway, but Foreign Secretary James Cleverly yesterday urged Britons to leave while they still can.

He warned the mission could become “impossible” if clashes between the warring parties became too dangerous for evacuation flights to bring the British to safety.

So far, 897 Britons – many of them young children – have been safely evacuated to Cyprus and now the UK on eight flights, as the government scrambles to evacuate thousands of Britons before the opportunity expires.

Somehow they survived the nightmarish journey through the violent streets of Khartoum to reach the British troops waiting for them at Wadi Saeedna air base – all without a British military escort.

But there are concerns for the safety of those still trapped in the war-torn country. Airstrikes, tanks and artillery hit Khartoum – the scene of most of the violence – on Friday and heavy bombardment hit the neighboring city of Bahri, showing how desperate the situation has become.

Turkish citizens gather to be evacuated from Sudan in another military plane at Wadi Seidna airbase after the previous plane was shot down

British nationals prepare to evacuate to an RAF aircraft at Sudan’s Wadi Seidna air base on Thursday

An army medic comforts a baby after being treated during the evacuation of British nationals at Sudan’s Wadi Seidna air base on Thursday.

Pictured: A Royal Marine comforts a baby during the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan’s Wadi Seidna airbase on April 27

Pictured: British nationals board an RAF plane at Wadi Seidna Airbase in Khartoum, Sudan before being evacuated from the country

Black smoke billows over Khartoum on Friday amid fighting between the warring factions

Amid ongoing ceasefire violations, heavy gunfire and explosions have hit residential areas of the capital where fighting has been ongoing for the past week.

“The situation this morning is very scary. We hear the sound of planes and explosions. We don’t know when this hell will end,” said Mahasin al-Awad (65) from Bahri.

“We are constantly afraid for ourselves and our children.”

The escalation in violence between the warring factions came hours after both sides accepted a 72-hour extension to the ceasefire.

Since April 15, fighting has killed at least 512 people and injured nearly 4,200, and has erupted into a humanitarian crisis.

Britons have described seeing thieves and murderers roaming the streets of the capital as the bodies of civilians killed in fighting between opposing factions lie in scenes that have been compared to the horror film The Purge.

They spoke of burning buildings, residential areas turning into battlefields and youths walking around with large knives.

Fighters ride in the back of a sapper vehicle (truck with a turret) in Khartoum’s East Nile district on April 23.