A helicopter has crashed in eastern Sudan, killing a state governor and at least four other officials.

The helicopter exploded in flames after it hit a communications tower as it tried to land in the remote Al-Qadarif state, witnesses are quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

No official reason has yet been given for the crash.

A number of people were taken to hospital for treatment, state media reported, without giving more details.

Among the dead are Al-Qadarif governor Mirghani Saleh, his cabinet chief, the local police chief and agriculture minister, the reports added.

Sudan's military fleet includes many aircraft bought from the former Soviet Union.

Eight people were injured in October when two of its planes collided on the runway at the airport in the capital, Khartoum.

In September, two pilots were killed when a military jet crashed near Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city.</s>KHARTOUM (Reuters) - At least seven local government officials were killed in a helicopter crash in Sudan’s eastern al-Qadarif state on Sunday, state news agency SUNA reported.

The state’s governor and three security officials were among the dead. A number of people were also injured in the incident, SUNA said. The officials had been carrying out a security tour of the province.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.

State TV earlier reported that a plane, not a helicopter, had crashed.

Al-Qadarif state is known for its farmland and agricultural projects.</s>At least 5 officials dead in Sudan helicopter crash

KHARTOUM: A helicopter crashed Sunday in eastern Sudan, killing at least five local officials who were on board, state media reported.

Witnesses said the helicopter caught fire after hitting a communications tower as it tried to land in a field in the state of Al-Qadarif. “Flames and thick dark smoke rose from the aircraft,” one of the witnesses, Adam Hassan, said.

Al-Qadarif governor Mirghani Saleh, his cabinet chief, the local minister of agriculture as well as the local police chief and head of border guards were killed, state television said.It did not give details about the circumstances of the crash near the border with Ethiopia, or say if there were any survivors. Sudan’s state news agency SUNA gave a slightly higher toll of six government officials killed.

It said an unspecified number of other people were taken to hospital for treatment, without providing further details.Most of Sudan’s military and civilian fleet consists of old Soviet-made aircraft, and the country has suffered a series of crashes in recent years, with the military frequently blaming technical problems and bad weather. In October eight people were injured in a collision between two Sudanese army planes on the runway at Khartoum airport.

Weeks earlier in September, two pilots were killed when their military jet crashed near Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city on the west bank of the Nile. That accident came days after a military helicopter crashed and caught fire on landing in Darfur, though all passengers were rescued.</s>At least seven people have died following a helicopter crash in Sudan’s Gadaref State in the east.

Sudan’s state news agency Suna reported that the governor of Gadaref, the state agriculture minister, and other senior security officials were among the victims in Sunday’s helicopter crash.

The state officials had been on a security inspection trip when the helicopter crashed as the pilot tried to land at the airport.

Sudan’s aircraft, most of them Soviet-made, are in poor condition. This state of affairs has led to a number of crashes over the last few years.

However, the military has instead blamed the crashes on bad weather and technical problems.

In October, eight people were injured in a collision between two Sudanese army planes on the runway at Khartoum airport, the East African reported.

Two pilots were killed in September when their military jet crashed near Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city on the west bank of the Nile. And only days earlier a military helicopter crashed and caught fire upon landing in Darfur with all passengers surviving.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.</s>At least seven local government officials have been killed in a helicopter crash in Sudan’s eastern Gadarif state.

The state’s governor and three security officials were among the dead, the country’s official news agency, SUNA, reported on Sunday.

Governor Mirghani Salih was travelling from the city of Gadarif heading to Gallabat, Ashorooq TV reported. Both cities are in Gadarif.

A number of people were also injured in the incident, SUNA said. The officials were carrying out a security tour of the province.

Witnesses said the helicopter caught fire after hitting a communications tower as it tried to land in a field in Gadarif, which known for its farmland and agricultural projects.

“Flames and thick dark smoke rose from the aircraft,” one of the witnesses, Adam Hassan, told AFP news agency.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. State TV earlier reported that a plane, not a helicopter, had crashed.

Most of Sudan’s military and civilian fleet consists of old Soviet-made aircraft, and the country has suffered a series of crashes in recent years, with the military frequently blaming technical problems and bad weather.

In October, eight people were injured in a collision between two Sudanese army planes on the runway at Khartoum airport.

Weeks earlier in September, two pilots were killed when their military jet crashed near Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city on the west bank of the Nile.

That accident came days after a military helicopter crashed and caught fire on landing in Darfur, though all passengers were rescued.</s>At least five local government officials have been killed in a plane crash in Sudan's eastern al-Qadarif state, state TV reports.

Those killed included the state's governor and its minister of agriculture.

Several crashes have occurred in Sudan in recent years.

In 2017, four passengers were injured after bad weather caused their plane to crash in South Sudan and hit into a fire truck upon landing and burst into flames.</s>At least five local government officials were killed in a plane crash in Sudan’s eastern al-Qadarif state on Sunday, state TV reported.

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The state’s governor and three security officials were among the dead. A number of people were also injured in the incident, SUNA said. The officials had been carrying out a security tour of the province.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.

Al-Qadarif state is known for its farmland and agricultural projects.

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KHARTOUM: A helicopter crashed yesterday in eastern Sudan, killing at least five local officials who were on board, state media reported.

Witnesses said the helicopter caught fire after hitting a communications tower as it tried to land in a field in the state of Al-Qadarif.

“Flames and thick dark smoke rose from the aircraft,” one of the witnesses, Adam Hassan, said.

Al-Qadarif governor Mirghani Saleh, his cabinet chief, the local minister of agriculture as well as the local police chief and head of border guards were killed, state television said.

It did not give details about the circumstances of the crash near the border with Ethiopia, or say if there were any survivors.

It said an unspecified number of other people were taken to hospital for treatment, without providing further details.

Most of Sudan’s military and civilian fleet consists of old Soviet-made aircraft, and the country has suffered a series of crashes in recent years, with the military frequently blaming technical problems and bad weather.

In October eight people were injured in a collision between two Sudanese army planes on the runway at Khartoum airport. — AFP</s>KHARTOUM, Dec 9 (Reuters) - At least five local government officials were killed in a plane crash in Sudan’s eastern al-Qadarif state on Sunday, state TV reported.

Those killed included the state’s governor and its minister of agriculture. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; writing by Lena Masri; editing by Gareth Jones)</s>KHARTOUM: A helicopter crashed on Sunday in eastern Sudan, killing at least five local officials who were on board, state media reported. Witnesses said the helicopter caught fire after hitting a communications tower as it tried to land in a field in the state of Al-Qadarif. "Flames and thick dark smoke rose from the aircraft," one of the witnesses, Adam Hassan, said.
A helicopter crash in eastern Sudan kills Al-Qadarif state governor Mirghani Saleh and at least four other officials.