Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) suspended all flights from and to Sudan until further notice, after its plane was shot at during the security events currently taking place in Sudan. The incident took place at Khartoum International Airport.

In a statement on Saturday, Saudia said that one of its planes, Airbus 4330, Flight No. (59458) was shot before it took off for Riyadh at 7:30 a.m., Saturday at Khartoum International Airport.

The shot caused damages to the plane while it was preparing for the return flight, Saudia said, while noting that the plane’s crew and guests were on board.

Saudia has confirmed that all crew members have arrived in the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum.

All planes that were flying over Sudan have been returned, in addition the suspension of all flights from and to Sudan, in order to preserve the safety of the guests and crew on board.

Saudia’s Emergency Coordination Center is following up on events and working alongside with the crew and staff of Saudia in the airport, as well as with the Kingdom’s embassy in Sudan, and other official agencies, regarding all developments regarding the accident.

It has allocated numbers inside and outside Saudi Arabia so that the families of the guests and the flight crew can communicate with Saudia. The numbers are: 8004343333 inside the Kingdom — while +966126864333 from outside Saudi Arabia.

Saudia said, it will announce more information in another supplementary statement.

It is worth mentioning that King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid Airport in Riyadh called on travelers heading to Khartoum International Airport to communicate with the carrier before heading to the airport, to ensure updates on their flight schedules.

Other Saudi-based airline such as flynas and flyadeal has also suspended all flights to Sudan until further notice.

In a statement issued by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia has expressed its deep concern about the escalation and the military clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan