This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8125664.stm

The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 14 Version 15
Yemen jet crashes in Indian Ocean Yemen jet crashes in Indian Ocean
(20 minutes later)
A Yemeni airliner with 153 people on board has crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago.A Yemeni airliner with 153 people on board has crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago.
Some bodies have been recovered, a Yemeni aviation official said. It is not clear whether there were survivors.Some bodies have been recovered, a Yemeni aviation official said. It is not clear whether there were survivors.
The Airbus 310 flight IY626, operated by Yemeni carrier Yemenia Air, was flying from the Yemeni capital Sanaa.The Airbus 310 flight IY626, operated by Yemeni carrier Yemenia Air, was flying from the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
Reports say it was due in the Comoros capital Moroni at about 0230 (0030 BST). Most of the passengers were believed to be travelling from Paris. Reports say it was due in the Comoros capital Moroni at about 0230 (0030 BST). Many of the passengers were believed to be travelling from Paris.
Airline officials said there were 142 passengers, including three infants, and 11 crew on board, adding that most of the passengers were Comoran or French. There were 147 passengers and 11 crew on board.
"The weather conditions were rough; strong wind and high seas," official Mohammad al-Sumairi told Reuters news agency. An airport source told AFP news agency that 66 of the passengers were French, although many are thought to have dual French-Comoran citizenship.
This is the second air tragedy this month involving large numbers of French citizens.
On 1 June an Air France Airbus 330 travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris plunged into the Atlantic, killing all 228 people on board.
'Aborted landing'
The cause of the crash is not known, but there was bad weather in the region at the time.
"The weather conditions were rough; strong wind and high seas," Yemenia official Mohammad al-Sumairi told Reuters news agency.
The three Comoros islands are about 300km (190 miles) northwest of Madagascar in the Mozambique channel.The three Comoros islands are about 300km (190 miles) northwest of Madagascar in the Mozambique channel.
The exact location of the crash was not immediately known.The exact location of the crash was not immediately known.
RECENT AIR CRASHES 1 June: An Air France Airbus plane travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris disappears in the Atlantic with 228 people on board12 February: A plane crashes into a house in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground8 February: A plane crashes into a river in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, killing 24 people Timeline of air disastersRECENT AIR CRASHES 1 June: An Air France Airbus plane travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris disappears in the Atlantic with 228 people on board12 February: A plane crashes into a house in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground8 February: A plane crashes into a river in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, killing 24 people Timeline of air disasters
But a civil aviation official told the BBC that the plane was probably a few kilometres from Moroni, on the island of Njazidja (Grande Comore), when it crashed.But a civil aviation official told the BBC that the plane was probably a few kilometres from Moroni, on the island of Njazidja (Grande Comore), when it crashed.
There were unconfirmed reports that it had attempted to land but aborted the landing. It was not seen again.There were unconfirmed reports that it had attempted to land but aborted the landing. It was not seen again.
A search is under way, involving two French military aircraft and a French vessel, the director general of Moroni International Airport, Hadji Madi Ali, told Reuters. A search is under way, with the French military assisting with the operation.
A resident near the airport told the BBC about 100 people were trying to get into the airport to find out more information, but without much success.A resident near the airport told the BBC about 100 people were trying to get into the airport to find out more information, but without much success.
The airline Yemenia is 51% owned by the Yemeni government and 49% by the Saudi government.The airline Yemenia is 51% owned by the Yemeni government and 49% by the Saudi government.
In 1996, a hijacked Ethiopian airliner came down in the same area - most of the 175 passengers and crew were killed.In 1996, a hijacked Ethiopian airliner came down in the same area - most of the 175 passengers and crew were killed.
On 1 June an Air France Airbus 330 travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris plunged into the Atlantic, killing all 228 people on board.
The cause of that crash has not been identified.
Are you affected by the crash? Do you have any information about it you would like to share? Contact the BBC using the form below.Are you affected by the crash? Do you have any information about it you would like to share? Contact the BBC using the form below.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions