171 passengers still missing , 171 dead in Sudanese air crash , officials say . Remaining 29 passengers on the Sudan Airways Airbus survived . The last airline disaster involving a Sudan Airways plane was July 8 , 2003 , when a Boeing 737 reported engine trouble after take-off from Port Sudan and missed its return approach to the airport . Police chief says `` defect '' caused plane to catch fire as it landed in a storm . Mohammad Noor accident occurred as plane touched down in low visibility , heavy rain .
171 passengers still missing , 171 dead in Sudanese air crash , officials say . Remaining 29 passengers on the Sudan Airways Airbus survived . Police chief says `` defect '' caused plane to catch fire as it landed in a storm . Mohammad Noor accident occurred as plane touched down in low visibility , heavy rain .