VIDEOS: Drought-hit Upington nearly washed away in sudden flooding | The Citizen

THE UPINGTON RUN Heavy in. Empty out. A Russian Il-76TD, tail RA-76445, operated by Abakan Air—a carrier blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury—touched down in Upington, South Africa, on 02 October under the callsign S58360. It arrived heavily loaded, tracking back through Oman and Iran, descending from a route that cut across the Horn of Africa. Within hours, it repositioned to Lanseria, took on fuel, and departed empty. No cargo records. No public manifest. Official statement: “civilian cargo — heli