Drones strike Khartoum airport, disrupt flights
Repeated drone attacks attributed to the RSF have targeted areas around the capital's airport, causing civilian casualties and raising safety concerns.
Khartoum International Airport has been the target of five successive waves of drone attacks, disrupting flights and raising passenger safety concerns. The attacks, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have struck seven locations across the city, killing a man and four children. While air defences reportedly intercepted some threats, a drone fell in an unoccupied area east of the runway. Aviation experts are calling for a temporary suspension of commercial operations pending an independent risk assessment.
The disruptions have left passengers uncertain about their travel plans, with some arriving at the airport only to find flights cancelled without prior notification. One passenger expressed frustration over the lack of official communication, noting that her cancelled flight still appeared as scheduled in the booking system while another departed on time. An airport official, however, maintained that flights were operating normally and that air traffic had not been affected by the bombardment.
Sudan's national carrier, Sudan Airways, continued operations, with one flight from Cairo landing and later departing for Port Sudan. An adviser to the head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council stated that the airport was operating normally and accused unnamed parties of spreading rumours of closure to hinder the return of normal life. Despite the ongoing attacks, authorities appear determined to maintain airport operations.
Why it mattersPassengers are affected by flight disruptions and uncertainty due to drone attacks near Khartoum airport.