Yemenia IY626 Airbus A310 crashed in Comores

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Per update as of 2240PDT 29JUN09, Yemenia has acknowledged the crash on its website:

Yemenia regrets to announce the missing of its flight No. IY626 from Sana’a to Moroni with 142 passengers and 11 crew onboard ِAirbus 310-300 for more information contact the call center at 00967 1250800 or the emergency No 00967 1 250833

Per update as of 2201PDT 29JUN09, Yemenia Airbus A310 crashed short from Moroni Airport during approach. IY626 carried 157 on board. According to authorities, Comores Islands does not have adequate facilities to conduct search and rescue operation. France is sending a vessel as to the crash site, as well as ships travelling near by. But it will take these vessels at least up to 6 hour to reach to the site.

Per update as of 1936PDT 29JUN09, CNN on the web is indicating flight operating from Sana’a to Moroni, which would makes it IY626. This is quoted from Yemenia Yemen Airways’ official

Per update as of 1929PDT 29JUN09, another source claiming it’s an inbound flight to Sana’a, IY626. But CNN is reporting IY627.

Per update as of 1910PDT 29JUN09, UNCONFIRMED source claims the inbound flight from Sana’a never arrived. (IY626)

Per update as of 1903PDT 29JUN09, because the exact time of the crash was unknown, it is hard to tell whether the flight was heading into Moroni as IY626 or leaving as IY627. However, most are suggesting IY627.

Per update as of 1817PDT 29JUN09, it appears flight takes off from Moroni in Comores, then the flight number is IY627.

Reuters is reporting Yemenia Yemen Airways Airbus A310 crashed in Comores, the island nation in the Indian Ocean, according to Yemen Government. At least 150 people on board.

Flight appears to be IY626 or IY627, as there are no reports on whether the flight was flying into or out of Comores. The aircraft, is Airbus A310 based on Yemenia flight schedule, unless it has swapped to a larger Airbus A330 in the last minute.

First updated 29JUN09 1736PDT. Link updated 29JUN09 1751PDT. Additional updates 29JUN09 1800PDT

Additional info/schedules on this route click on the title of this post

Yemenia operates up to 7 weekly service from Sana’a to Moroni in Comores with Airbus A310 and 330 during peak season. Boeing 737-800 may be operating from time to time during slow season

Schedule for the week of 29JUN09.
IY4000 SAH0230 – 0630HAH 310 7 28JUN09 – 26JUL09
IY4004 SAH0230 – 0630HAH 330 4 02JUL09 – 23JUL09
IY628 SAH1300 – 1700HAH 310 7 28JUN09 – 06SEP09
IY626 SAH2000 – 2359HAH 310 1 22JUN09 – 07SEP09
IY626 SAH2030 – 0030+1HAH 310 35 26JUN09 – 14AUG09
IY4002 SAH2200 – 0200+1HAH 310 7 05JUL09 – 26JUL09

IY627 HAH0100 – 0500SAH 310 2 23JUN09 – 08SEP09
IY4003 HAH0100 – 0500SAH 330 1 29JUN09
IY627 HAH0130 – 0530SAH 310 46 27JUN09 – 15AUG09
IY4003 HAH0300 – 0700SAH 310 1 06JUL09 – 27JUL09
IY4005 HAH0730 – 1130SAH 330 4 02JUL09 – 23JUL09
IY4001 HAH0730 – 1130SAH 310 7 28JUN09 – 19JUL09
IY629 HAH1800 – 2200SAH 310 7 28JUN09 – 06SEP09

IY4000 series are extra flights during peak season