Yemen: At Least 10 Killed After Fighter Jet Crashes Into Building

Yemen: At least 10 killed after fighter jet crashes into building < br />

2013-02-20 11:55:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA, YEMEN (BNO NEWS) -- At least ten people were killed after a fighter aircraft on Tuesday crashed in Yemen's capital, local authorities said.

The Sequoia 22 fighter jet crashed down into a three-story building in the busy residential district of Qadissiya in Sanaa.

Yemen Transport Ministery Waed Bathib told local media that seven civilians had been killed, including two children, while 21 others were injured. However, the state-run Saba news agency said the number of killed had increased to ten, including the aircraft's pilot, Captain Mohammed Shaker.

The aircraft was on a training mission when it lost control and crashed down, but investigations are ongoing, as the cause of the accident remains uncertain.

Bathib also announced he is currently looking to ban military aviation training over populated areas in order to prevent further incidents similar to that of Tuesday. The minister is working alongside the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Meteorology, he said.

The condition of Yemen's air force fleet has long been criticized for being inoperable and out of date.

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