Yemen official: Airbus jet bound for Comoros crashes

SAN'A, Yemen -- A Yemenia Air plane going from the Arabian Peninsula country of Yemen to the island nation of Comoros has crashed in the Indian Ocean, a Yemen airport official said Tuesday.

The official said the plane was going from the Yemen capital San'a to Moroni, on the main island of Grand Comore.

It was not known how many passengers were on board the Airbus 310 or the status of the passengers and crew.

The official said most of the passengers on the plane were believed to be Comoros residents returning from Paris.

The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The Comoros is an archipelago of three main islands situated about 1,800 miles south of Yemen, between Africa's southeastern coast and Madagascar.