Kenyan plane makes crash landing in Sudan
2013-01-02 10:57
Khartoum - A Kenyan Airways plane with 56 passengers on board made an
emergency landing in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, after an engine caught
fire, witnesses said on Wednesday.
Nobody was hurt, but the incident on Tuesday night left passengers stranded
in a country difficult for travel because credit cards do not work in Sudan due
to US trade sanctions. Banks change dollars only at a very unfavourable
exchange rate compared with the dominant black market.
The Cairo-bound Boeing 737-700 took off in Khartoum after a regular stopover
following a flight from Nairobi. But it had to return to the Sudanese capital
after 20 minutes, three passengers on board flight KQ 320 said.
"An engine caught fire and the plane suddenly lost much altitude. The
pilot made a sharp turn and returned to Khartoum," said Souhair Mohamed
Hawala, an Egyptian passenger. "There was panic on board. People were
crying or praying."
Other passengers showed what they said were pictures from the damaged wing
and engine of the plane.
A Kenyan Airways official said the plane had returned with an unspecified
"engine problem" and needed to be repaired in Sudan. "We don't
know the cause yet," he said, adding passengers would be booked on the
airline's next flight out of Sudan after 24 hours.
