28 Aircraft Reported Destroyed at Khartoum Since 2023

At least 28 aircraft have been confirmed destroyed at Khartoum’s aviation facilities since fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023, according to a ch-aviation analysis of satellite imagery, aviation records and on-the-ground reporting.

The tally includes both large commercial airliners and smaller business jets, housed at Khartoum International Airport and other aerodromes in and around the Sudanese capital, that have been damaged or reduced to wreckage as combat operations between rival military factions and paramilitary forces have unfolded. The aircraft losses reflect a broader erosion of civil aviation assets and infrastructure in conflict zones, compounding the humanitarian and economic toll of prolonged hostilities.

Among the destroyed aircraft are a mix of former passenger jets, freighter conversions and corporate types that were parked when hostilities intensified. Some airframes were already out of active service, having been stored or detained due to financial or regulatory issues, but have nonetheless been caught up in the degradation of civil aviation facilities. Others were in operational condition when the conflict brought scheduled services to a near standstill and left fleet units vulnerable to shelling, fire and structural collapse.

Khartoum’s primary airport infrastructure has been effectively shuttered to scheduled commercial traffic for extended periods, with runways, terminal facilities and support systems subjected to sporadic damage. Airlines that previously served the capital have diverted services to alternative gateways or suspended operations entirely amid concerns for crew safety and air traffic continuity.

The aircraft destruction tally underscores how active conflict disrupts aviation beyond immediate passenger and cargo movements. Civil aviation assets — from airframes and engines to ground handling equipment — represent significant capital investments. Their loss reverberates through leasing markets, insurer portfolios and regional network planning, particularly when assets are written off and cannot be repositioned to alternative hubs.

Analysts note that the absence of structured record-keeping during the conflict complicates precise accounting but satellite and aviation-tracking sources confirm the depletion of physical aircraft presence at Khartoum. The destroyed units include examples of Boeing, Airbus and regional jet types associated with scheduled service carriers in Africa and the Middle East, as well as private jets that were transiting or stationed at the time of the outbreak of violence.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other aviation bodies monitor conflict-related aviation losses as part of broader safety and asset protection frameworks. Aircraft damage in war zones not only depletes fleet inventories but risks the release of hazardous materials and complicates eventual post-conflict recovery of airport infrastructure.

The situation in Sudan has prompted airlines to adjust risk assessments for operations in volatile regions, with insurers often categorising conflict-affected airfields as high-risk zones that attract elevated premiums or operational restrictions. Lessors and financiers, too, have revalued exposure where collateral aircraft are stranded or destroyed without viable recovery options.

For national and regional aviation regulators seeking to restore service confidence after conflicts, mitigating asset loss and rebuilding airport operations are long-term priorities. Reconstruction of facilities and re-registration of replacement aircraft require coordination among government agencies, airport authorities and potential international partners.

The long-term impacts on Sudan’s aviation ecosystem include potential deterrence of future airline services until political stability and infrastructure security are demonstrably re-established. The Khartoum aircraft destruction count serves as a stark indicator of how conflict can decimate aviation physical assets, erode operational capacity and dissuade carriers from committing resources to unstable environments.

Continued monitoring of satellite data and aviation records will inform industry stakeholders about the extent of damage and progress in recovery efforts should hostilities abate. The loss of 28 aircraft at Khartoum’s airports since 2023 highlights the vulnerability of civil aviation infrastructure in conflict zones and the wide-ranging repercussions for global and regional airline operations.