Death Wish: Sudan Militants Kidnapped Two Russian Pilots

In Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, Two Russian pilots have been kidnapped, says UN officials.

The Pilots employed by the UTair airline which has a contract to fly aircraft for the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (Unamid).

The pilots were kidnapped in Zalingei on January 29, Sputnik News, Russia’s official news agency reports.

"A Unamid minibus was blocked by six cars. The passengers were forced to get off the minibus at gunpoint and led off in an unknown direction," UTair said in a statement.

"Unidentified militants kidnapped two Russian pilots in Zalingei, capital city of Central Darfur state, as they were on board a bus in the city," Unamid spokesperson, Ashraf Eissa also said.

The Russian Embassy in Khartoum has also confirmed the kidnapping with spokesman, Artur Safukov saying that efforts are being made to secure the pair’s release.