Sudan plane fire kills at least 28
Wednesday, 11 Jun 2008 09:18
The plane burst into flames at Khartoum airport in Sudan
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At least 28 people have been killed after a plane burst into flames at Khartoum airport in Sudan.
The Sudan Airways passenger aircraft with more than 200 people on board was taxiing along the runway when an engine caught fire on Tuesday, reports claim.
The plane had just landed from Jordan's capital city Amman when the accident occurred.
Media reports suggest 53 people are still missing but over 100 are thought to have survived.
Sudanese TV footage showed firefighters battling the roaring blaze with little success.
Youssef Ibrahim, director of the Khartoum airport, told the Associated Press news agency that the plane had "landed safely" and the pilot was talking to the control tower before the fire broke out.
"One of the [plane's] engines exploded and the plane caught fire," he said, blaming technical problems for the blaze.