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Yemen jet crashes in Indian Ocean Yemen jet crashes in Indian Ocean
(about 1 hour 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 spotted, a Yemeni aviation official said, and wreckage of the plane located. It is not clear whether there were survivors. Some bodies have been recovered, a Yemeni aviation official said, and wreckage of the plane located. There has been no word of any 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.
It is not clear what caused the crash but officials say there was bad weather in the area at the time. The cause of the crash is not clear. A French minister said faults were found on the plane during a check in 2007.
French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau told French radio the weather rather than the plane itself was the likely problem. "The A310 in question was inspected in 2007 by the DGAC [French transport authorities] and they noticed a certain number of faults. Since then the plane had not returned to France," Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau was quoted as telling French TV.
"They are saying the plane was making its approach, that it pulled out of the approach and then tried another approach that went wrong," he told French radio. 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 board20 May: An Indonesian army C-130 Hercules transport plane crashes into a village on eastern Java, killing at least 97 people12 February: A plane crashes into a house in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground class="" href="/2/hi/in_depth/2008892.stm">Timeline of air disasters
"The company was not on the black list but was subject to stricter checks on our part, and was due to be interviewed shortly by the European Union's safety committee."
Mr Bussereau had earlier told French media that bad weather was the likely cause.
Reports say the plane was due in the Comoros capital Moroni at about 0230 (2230GMT on Monday). Most of the passengers had travelled to Sanaa from Paris or Marseille on a different aircraft.Reports say the plane was due in the Comoros capital Moroni at about 0230 (2230GMT on Monday). Most of the passengers had travelled to Sanaa from Paris or Marseille on a different aircraft.
The flight on to Moroni was also thought to have made a stop in Djibouti.The flight on to Moroni was also thought to have made a stop in Djibouti.
There were 147 passengers, including three babies, and 11 crew on board.There were 147 passengers, including three babies, and 11 crew on board.
An airport source told AFP news agency that 66 of the passengers were French, although many are thought to have dual French-Comoran citizenship.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.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.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''Aborted landing'
A search is under way, with the French military assisting with the operation.A search is under way, with the French military assisting with the operation.
French military are assisting with the search operation
Officials told AFP that wreckage from the plane, an oil slick and bodies had been spotted in the water a few kilometres from Moroni, on the island of Njazidja (Grande Comore).Officials told AFP that wreckage from the plane, an oil slick and bodies had been spotted in the water a few kilometres from Moroni, on the island of Njazidja (Grande Comore).
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 board20 May: An Indonesian army C-130 Hercules transport plane crashes into a village on eastern Java, killing at least 97 people12 February: A plane crashes into a house in Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground Timeline of air disasters
"The weather conditions were rough; strong wind and high seas," Yemenia official Mohammad al-Sumairi told Reuters news agency."The weather conditions were rough; strong wind and high seas," Yemenia official Mohammad al-Sumairi told Reuters news agency.
The BBC's Will Ross, in Kenya, says that given the fact the crash happened during the night and in the sea, the chances of finding any survivors are slim.The BBC's Will Ross, in Kenya, says that given the fact the crash happened during the night and in the sea, the chances of finding any survivors are slim.
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.
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.
Have you been affected by the crash? Do you have any information about it you would like to share? Contact the BBC using the form below.Have you been affected by the crash? Do you have any information about it you would like to share? Contact the BBC using the form below.
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