What happened
A cargo flight operated by United Arabian Airlines, performing duties for AZZA Air Transport, was traveling from Khartoum to Geneina when the accident occurred. Upon landing at the destination, the four-engine aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length. The aircraft subsequently overran the landing strip and came to a halt in a sandy area nearby.
The impact caused extensive structural damage to the airframe, including the loss of the undercarriage and the shearing of the left wing tip, rendering the aircraft a total loss. While there were no injuries reported among the occupants, the cargo on board was notable. According to witness accounts provided to the investigating Panel, the flight carried a large number of military personnel. The manifest also included two 122 mm D-22 type artillery howitzers and approximately 40 to 50 olive drab wooden boxes, which were believed to contain ammunition and weaponry.
Following the incident, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) supervised the offloading of the cargo over several days and maintained a guard over the wreckage for at least one week.
Findings
An official report released by the UNO in late April 2007 highlighted concerns regarding the nature of the cargo. The organization criticized the Sudanese authorities for failing to adhere to the mandates of resolution 1591, which prohibits the delivery of military hardware to the Darfur region. The inability to stop the aircraft on the runway was the primary factor leading to the destruction of the airframe.