Antonove plane was shot before crashing, military sources

Antonove plane was shot before crashing, military sources 

By Nasser Arrabyee,21/11/2012

The military airplane crashed this morning in Sanaa was downed by firing from the land, said military sources in the air defense base Wednesday. 

The officials said it was a technical fault behind the crash and that a fact-finding was formed to know what and who was behind the fault.

The sources said the shooting might have come from Al Qaeda or from the conflicting parties within the State, like the political assassinations that happen from time to time these days. 

Earlier Wednesday, 10 military officers onboard were killed when the Russian-made Antonov crashed into the Qat market in Al Hasba area, behind the Palace of the famous tribal leader late Abdullah AlAhmar. The market was empty, no casualties from civilians, but many shops were heavily damaged. 

Many eyewitness from local residents said they saw smoke rising from the plane before it crashed.

Four high ranking officers including   Ali Al Khawajah, commander of the transportation brigade, were among those killed.