The Sudanese army has confirmed that nobody survived the crash, which took place just five minutes after the ill-fated plane took off from El Geneina airport in West Darfur. The region has seen heavy fighting between tribal militias in the recent days.

"An Antonov 12 military plane crashed Thursday night after takeoff from El Geneina, killing its seven-member crew, three judges and eight civilians, including four children, who were onboard,” army spokesman Amer Mohammed Al-Hassan said, as cited by AFP.

The plane was reportedly on a mission to deliver aid to the crisis-stricken area. Photos of the smoke billowing from the badly charred debris of the aircraft quickly emerged online.