Israeli Airstrikes Destroy Yemen’s Only Civilian Aircraft at Sana’a Airport
Targeted attack halts Hajj transport and humanitarian flights, sparking outrage over violation of international law
Yemen, PUREWILAYAH.COM – The Director General of Sana’a International Airport, Khaled Al-Shaif, confirmed on Wednesday morning that Israeli warplanes launched four airstrikes targeting the airport, completely destroying Yemen’s only civilian aircraft operated by Yemenia Airways.
In a statement to Al Masirah TV, Al-Shaif explained that the aircraft had narrowly escaped a previous attack on May 6, and had just returned from Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan, landing only 30 minutes before the strike.
On board were 150 passengers. At the time of the bombing, the plane was scheduled to transport 300 Hajj pilgrims to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
Timeline of the Attack and Emergency Response
The first strike hit the airport at 9:50 a.m., prompting airport officials to quickly evacuate the plane’s crew, the arriving passengers from Jordan, and the 300 pilgrims who were preparing to board the aircraft.
Despite swift action, the repeated airstrikes led to the complete destruction of the plane.
“This was the only aircraft we had to conduct commercial flights,” said Al-Shaif. “Its destruction will severely impact the transportation of critical humanitarian cases and patients who need medical care abroad.”
Impact on Hajj and Medical Flights
The destroyed aircraft was essential for organizing daily flights to Jeddah for pilgrims and to Jordan for other passengers.
Al-Shaif noted that the final scheduled Hajj flight was due to depart on June 1. “Now, hundreds of pilgrims have been deprived of their chance to perform the sacred pilgrimage,” he lamented.
Additional Damage and No Infrastructure Losses
Israeli warplanes also targeted a Saeeda Airlines plane parked at the airport, though no structural damage to airport infrastructure was reported.
The true loss, emphasized Al-Shaif, lies in the destruction of Yemen’s only functioning passenger aircraft.
Despite the repeated Israeli bombardments—three attacks on the airport so far—Sana’a International Airport’s infrastructure remains intact. However, the blow to Yemen’s civilian aviation capability is immense.
Plans for Alternative Solutions
Al-Shaif concluded that efforts are underway to seek alternative solutions for resuming humanitarian and pilgrimage flights, though the loss of the aircraft presents a serious logistical challenge. (PW)
Source: Al-Masirah