Sandstorm air crash kills 58

SANA, YEMEN (Reuter) - All 58 people on board a Yemeni military aircraft were killed when it crashed in the desert near Aden during a sandstorm on Tuesday night. The official news agency Saba said 16 military policemen and members of the Yemeni navy were among the passengers. The other dead were six crew members and 36 civilians including women and children.

Witnesses said the Soviet- built Antonov exploded as it hit the ground in the Bir Fadl area about six miles from Aden airport. The aircraft had circled the airport for some time, unable to land because of the sandstorm. The plane was en route from Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean to Aden.