According to Abu Ali Express, the Iranian Mahan Air flight originally bound for Sanaa International Airport was unable to land due to a Saudi attack on the runways and has diverted to Hodeida Airport in western Yemen.
At 14:46 Jerusalem, according to Abu Ali Express, the Iranian Mahan Air flight originally bound for Sanaa International Airport diverted to Hodeida Airport after a Saudi strike on the runways. This development follows a rapid sequence of events earlier today: The Zioneer first reported at 12:56 Jerusalem that an unidentified aircraft, later identified as Mahan Air, had landed at Sanaa. Minutes later, Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on the airport, targeting the runways, and reports emerged that the plane had diverted to Hodeida.
The sequence of reports grew in specificity and source range. At 12:56 Jerusalem, eyewitnesses identified the aircraft as Mahan Air. By 14:03 Jerusalem, Houthi-affiliated media accused Saudi Arabia of striking the airport to prevent the landing, and Yemen's official news agency confirmed the strikes on the runways. Reports from multiple outlets, including Walla and i24NEWS, indicated the plane had carried IRGC and Houthi officials and that the strike was triggered by the landing. Within the same minute, our desk published updates that the plane had reportedly landed in Hodeidah instead of Sanaa. The latest report from Abu Ali Express corroborates the diversion.
The Zioneer has previously reported on Mahan Air's role in the Iran-Yemen axis. On July 6, we reported that a Mahan Air flight to Sanaa carried 200 injured and a Houthi delegation, breaching the Saudi-led air blockade. On July 3, we reported that two Saudi Boeing 777s transferred to Mahan Air were spotted at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, highlighting the airline's evasion of sanctions. These reports underscore Mahan Air's operational ties to the IRGC and Houthi forces.
It remains unclear whether the Mahan Air flight has already landed at Hodeida or is still en route, as the Abu Ali Express report is unverified. The extent of damage to Sanaa's runways has not been independently confirmed. No official confirmation from Saudi Arabia, Iran, or the Houthis has been issued regarding the plane's diversion.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake