Khartoum International Airport Explained

Khartoum International Airport
Nativename-A:Arabic: مطار الخرطوم الدولي
Nativename-R:Maṭār Al-Khurṭūm Al-Duwaliyy
Image2-Width:250
Iata:KRT
Icao:HSSK
Pushpin Map:Sudan
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Sudan
Pushpin Label:KRT
Pushpin Label Position:right
Type:Civil and Military (Joint)
City-Served:Khartoum
Location:Khartoum, Sudan
Elevation-F:1,265
Elevation-M:386
Website:krtairport.gov.sd
R1-Number:18/36
R1-Length-F:9,777
R1-Length-M:2,980
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:2017
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:3,563,181
Footnotes:Source: Khartoum International Airport[1]

Khartoum International Airport (ar|مطار الخرطوم الدولي) is the principal airport in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The airport has been shut down since it was stormed and occupied on 15 April 2023 during the Battle of Khartoum.[2]

History

The airport originated as the Royal Air Force airfield Gordon's Tree. By January 1940, No. 223 Squadron RAF was located at Gordon's Tree, in the south of Khartoum.[3] Later the area became known as El Shajjara ("The Tree").[4] By January 1942, No. 71 Operational Training Unit (OTU) RAF was operating from the airfield; among aircraft operated were Curtiss Tomahawks and Vickers Wellesleys. Reportedly the OTU had at one stage 50 Harvards and 20 Hurricane fighters on strength.[5]

Sudanese independence was granted in January 1956. The last Royal Air Force flying unit reported at Khartoum was No. 8 Squadron RAF, which arrived in November 1953, and stayed until July 1956.[6]

The current airport is scheduled to be replaced by the New Khartoum International Airport in Omdourman south of the centre of Khartoum. This is planned to have two 4000metre runways, a passenger terminal of 86000sqm and a 300-room international hotel.[7] [8] Construction is to be carried out by China Harbour Engineering Co. (CHEC).[9] On 4 March 2021, the airport's ICAO code was changed from HSSS to HSSK.[10]

At the start of the Sudanese civil war (2023–present) on 15 April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked key installations in Khartoum, including Khartoum International Airport. The RSF reportedly fired on a Saudia airliner which was arriving at the airport, but no casualties were reported among the aircraft's passengers and crew.[11] [12] However, two civilians were killed in separate incidents in the airport.[13] A total of 20 aircraft were believed to have been destroyed during the fighting.[14] The RSF subsequently occupied the airport, which has been closed to aviation and has been subjected to attacks by the Sudanese Armed Forces during the Battle of Khartoum.[15]

Airlines and destinations (suspended)

Cargo

Khartoum Air Base

The airport hosts a major Sudanese Air Force Transport Squadron:[16]

Police Air Wing operates rotary aircraft from the base:

Accidents and incidents

On 10 June 2008, an aircraft operating from Amman, Jordan, landed and went off the end of the runway. The right engine then caught fire and the fire spread rapidly. Preliminary reports stated that around 100 of the 200 passengers had been killed[20] but this was revised to 30 dead with 184 survivors.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: KRT International Airport Statistics 2017 . 2023-04-21 . www.krtairport.gov.sd.
  2. Web site: Leiro . Roberto . 2023-04-15 . Sudan's RSF Clashes with Army in Khartoum Airport . 2023-04-16 . Airways . en-US.
  3. Web site: Stations-G .
  4. Washington's military option. Africa Confidential. 39. 17. 28 August 1998.
  5. Book: Cunningham, Pat. Fighter! Fighter! Corkscrew Port! . . 30 Oct 2011 . 13.
  6. Web site: Stations-Khartoum . 2022-11-18.
  7. Web site: Construction of the new Khartoum Airport begins in October . Sudan Tribune . 20 February 2006 . 13 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060801002004/http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=14161 . 1 August 2006 . live.
  8. Web site: Sudan to build new international airport near Khartoum . English.peopledaily.com.cn . 13 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080505063808/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200602/20/eng20060220_244150.html . 5 May 2008 . live.
  9. Web site: The African Aviation Tribune . The African Aviation Tribune . 17 July 2013 . 29 April 2014 . https://archive.today/20140102202351/http://www.theafricanaviationtribune.com/2012/06/sudan-new-khartoum-airport-secures.html . 2 January 2014 . live.
  10. Web site: 2021-02-23 . Khartoum (HSSS) Cycle 2102 ICAO code changed . 2022-05-07 . Jeppesen.
  11. Web site: Sudan unrest: RSF captures presidential palace as violence rages . 18 April 2023 . geo.tv. 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416163354/https://www.geo.tv/latest/482255-sudan-unrest-rsf-captures-presidential-palace-as-violence-rages . live.
  12. News: 15 April 2023 . Saudi airline says plane came under fire at Khartoum International Airport. Reuters . 16 April 2023 . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416152124/https://www.reuters.com/world/saudi-national-carrier-says-aircraft-had-an-accident-khartoum-airport-2023-04-15/ . live.
  13. Web site: Sudan's army and rival force clash, wider conflict feared . 25 September 2023 . The New Indian Express. 15 April 2023 .
  14. Web site: Odhiambo . Victor Shalton . 2023-04-20 . At least 14 Aircraft damaged in Fighting at Khartoum Airport in Sudan . 2024-04-07 . Airspace Africa . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2023-08-26 . Strong explosion rocks Khartoum airport amid new attacks . 2024-04-07 . EFE Noticias . en-US.
  16. Web site: Orbats .
  17. Web site: Incident Vickers Wellesley Mk I L2660, 01 Jan 1942.
  18. Web site: Accident description . Aviation Safety Network . 31 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025075006/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19520827-0 . 25 October 2012 . live.
  19. Web site: N480F Accident report . Aviation Safety Network . 27 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121102154414/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830719-0 . 2 November 2012 . live.
  20. News: Dozens die in Sudan jet inferno . BBC News . 10 June 2008 . 5 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080928211213/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7447243.stm . 28 September 2008 . live.
  21. News: Cargo plane explodes in Khartoum, killing 4 crew . Reuters . 30 June 2008 . 30 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090111052229/http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-34294120080630 . 11 January 2009 . dead.
  22. News: BREAKING Two Antonov aircraft have collided on the ground at Khartoum Airport, Sudan . Airlive Contributors . 2018-10-03 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181835/https://www.airlive.net/breaking-two-antonov-aircraft-have-collided-on-the-ground-at-khartoum-airport-sudan/ . 3 October 2018 . live.
  23. Web site: Saudia Said Plane Involved in 'Accident' at Sudan's Khartoum Airport . 17 April 2023 . 15 April 2023 . Hogg . businessinsider.com . Business Insider . Ryan . Saudia, formerly called Saudi Arabian Airlines, issued a statement saying one of its Airbus A330 jets was "involved in an accident" at the airport before a flight to Riyadh.... the other plane damaged in the shelling was a Ukraine-based SkyUp 737, operating on behalf of airline Sunwing..

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