Red Cross plane forced to land after deviating route

Saudi-led Coalition spokesperson, Col Turki Al Maliki, said that at 1pm local time yesterday, an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plane changed course after taking off from Sanaa airport on its way to Djibouti. Al Maliki said the air crew responsible for the aircraft changed its course and were forced to deviate from its original route, adding the plane’s course was changed in order to avoid flying over conflict areas.

Al Maliki said Coalition forces contacted the aircraft through the global emergency frequency. However, the plane’s crew did not respond to the calls, and instructions were given to redirect the aircraft from the operations zone without hesitation. “They were forced to land at King Abdullah Regional Airport in Jazan at 2:16 pm local time,” he added.