As violence escalated in Khartoum on Saturday, a passenger plane set to depart from Sudan to Saudi Arabia was hit by gunfire, according to the kingdom's flag carrier, Saudia. The Airbus A330, en route to Riyadh, sustained damage while passengers and crew were on board.

Saudia confirmed that all cabin crew members safely reached the Saudi Embassy in Sudan. In response to the situation, all flights to and from Sudan were suspended to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Overflying aircraft were also diverted.

On Saturday, violent clashes erupted between Sudan's army and paramilitary forces, leading to the reported deaths of three civilians, including at Khartoum's central airport. The Saudia statement did not specify any casualties related to its aircraft incident.

As the violence unfolded, the paramilitary forces claimed control over the airport and the presidential palace, although the army refuted these claims. The conflict arose amid increasing tensions between military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo over the planned integration of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the regular army. This integration is a crucial aspect of negotiations to restore civilian rule in Sudan and resolve the crisis triggered by the 2021 coup, which further exacerbated the country's economic turmoil.

The Saudi embassy in Sudan advised all Saudi citizens to stay indoors, as reported by the state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel. Both the Saudi foreign ministry and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, headquartered in Riyadh, expressed concerns over Saturday's violence.