ALBAWABA- Yemeni Airways announced that Houthi militia detained three of its planes at Sana'a International Airport upon their return from Saudi Arabia, as well as one more plane detained a month ago.
In a statement, Yemeni Airways expressed deep concern, warning that "the situation threatens the safety of air navigation in Yemen and complicates the operation of flights to and from the country," as reported by the official Yemeni news agency, Sheba.
The detained planes had just arrived from King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, carrying hundreds of pilgrims returning from the holy sites after completing the Hajj pilgrimage.
The airline highlighted the plight of "thousands of pilgrims who remain stranded in Saudi Arabia, waiting for their turn to return to Sana'a and other Yemeni airports."
Yemeni Airways has called on the international community, international aviation organizations, the UN envoy to Yemen, and all relevant authorities to urgently intervene to halt these abuses against the company.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions, as the Houthis have been holding Yemeni Airways' accounts in Sana'a banks since last year, forcing the company to suspend its flights to Jordan.
However, the Houthi-run Ministry of Guidance and Hajj in Sana'a has accused Saudi authorities of detaining more than 1,100 Yemeni pilgrims, holding them fully responsible for their safety.
The pilgrims are unable to return to Sana'a Airport because Yemenia Airways planes are currently detained by the Houthis. The Houthis insist that Yemeni pilgrims who departed from Sana'a Airport should return via the same airport using alternative airlines.
This escalation is part of a broader conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
The government has taken steps regarding the banking sector, travel agencies, and telecommunications, as well as requiring passengers to make payments for bookings in areas under their control.
The Houthis, who control about 75% of Yemen's population and seized the capital city of Sana'a in October 2014, reject these measures, accusing the internationally recognized government of being puppets of Saudi Arabia, the USA, Britain, and the UAE.
