At Least 100 Reported Killed In Overrun Accident

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 06.10.08 1730 EDT: There continue to be conflicting reports as to what caused a Sudan Airways airliner to catch fire after landing at Khartoum International Airport Tuesday night... but most sources agree at least half the 217 passengers and crew onboard were able to escape the burning wreckage.

According to scheduling timetables posted on the airline's website, the accident flight appears to be SD109, inbound from Damascus. Footage from the scene shows the burning wreckage of what looks to be an Airbus A310.

While most reports indicate the airliner overran the runway while landing in a thunderstorm, Khartoum Airport director Youssef Ibrahim told Sudanese television the airliner had "landed safely," and the pilot was in communications with ground control when the incident occurred.

"At this moment, one of the engines exploded and the plane caught fire," Ibrahim said. "It's a technical reason."

That account contradicts a number of other reports, however, including statements from Sudanese police. Chief Mohammad Najib told officials bad weather "caused the plane to crash land, split into two and catch fire.

"We believe that most of the passengers were able to make it out and escape with their lives," Najib added, reports The Associated Press. Images from the scene show several of the airliner's escape 'chutes deployed.

There are also reports the accident flight initially diverted to Port Sudan, after aborting its first approach to Khartoum. The airliner later diverted back to its destination airport.

Sudanese news reports state at least 100 people were killed in the accident.

Original Report

1515 EDT: CNN reports a Sudanese airliner has crashed on landing in Khartoum International Airport in Sudan, with as many as 200 persons onboard.

Details are sketchy at this time. Sudanese television reports the Sudan Airways airliner, type unknown, overran the runway while attempting to land at night in rainy conditions, with thunderstorms in the area.

There are unconfirmed reports of as many as 100 casualties, though officials say a number of survivors have been rescued.

Images from the scene show the skeletal hulk of an aircraft on the runway, engulfed in flames. Video appears to show a large, widebody aircraft -- possibly an Airbus A300 -- with its fuselage largely intact. The aircraft's nose is supported by its nosegear, but its maingear appears to have been sheared off.

ANN will continue to update the situation as more information becomes available.

FMI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khartoum_International_Airport, www.sudanairways.com