Saudi Airlines lost one of its newest and most valuable aircraft at Khartoum Airport after it was targeted while it was preparing to take off, but the survival of the plane's crew and passengers is invaluable, and according to frequent information, flights of other Saudi airlines had left the airport moments before the outbreak of the events, while more than one flight returned. Heading to Sudan after the airport turned into a battleground between the two sides of the military conflict in Sudan!
The question arises, who bears the responsibility for assessing the risks in such circumstances, and determining the security and technical safety of using the airport?! In principle, the responsibility rests with the Civil Aviation Authority, without exempting the airlines from assessing their risk calculations for whichever destination they fly to, and the escalation of tension during recent days in Sudan predicted an armed clash, which calls for a self-review with the Civil Aviation Authority and Saudi airlines. Risk assessment standards and strict application!
Khartoum Airport suffers from weak security measures, worn-out ground services, and poor runways. I still remember how angry passengers stormed the airport square to prevent a Saudi plane from taking off without boarding them, after the airport resumed its activity after it was suspended during the Corona pandemic!
All this raises questions about the measures taken by the authorities concerned with aviation safety in assessing unsafe airports, including Khartoum Airport, and do commercial accounts affect security accounts?!
Khaled Suleiman