Barran Press
The Yemeni Tourism Federation on Sunday, June 30th, 2024, accused the Ministry of Awqaf in the internationally recognized Yemeni government of being responsible for the Houthi detention of Yemenia Airlines planes. The federation stated that the ministry's signing of a contract with Yemenia Airlines for the transportation of pilgrims "is the root of the problem and gave the Houthis justification for detaining the aircraft."
In a statement, seen by Barran Press, the federation called on the Ministry of Awqaf to "assume its responsibility according to the law and regulations, and to obligate Yemenia Airlines to return the pilgrims by all means and according to the law."
The statement condemned the Houthis' detention of the aircraft and their use of the pilgrims as leverage, expressing "deep" disappointment with the situation of Yemeni pilgrims stranded in Makkah hotels.
The Yemeni Tourism Federation appealed to the Presidential Leadership Council and the government for "urgent intervention to resolve the problem, rescue our country's pilgrims, open an investigation, and hold those responsible accountable."
Last Friday, June 28th, the Presidential Leadership Council approved the formation of a government committee headed by Prime Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak to manage the crisis of the Houthis' detention of three Yemenia Airlines planes that were transporting pilgrims to Sana'a International Airport.
According to the Saba news agency, the government committee's mission includes "restricting the use of the hijacked aircraft until further notice, including the release of the plane that has been detained for two months, and lifting the ban on the company's frozen assets, which exceed $100 million."
The Presidential Leadership Council considered the Houthis' hijacking of Yemenia Airlines aircraft, which is financially and administratively independent, "a full-fledged terrorist act," adding to their serious violations against national and foreign air and sea carriers over the past years, according to the agency.
The council held the Houthi group fully responsible for the consequences of this "dangerous" escalation, which it said would "further deepen the suffering of the citizens, affect the operation of the national carrier, and cause it significant losses."
On June 26th, 2024, Yemenia Airlines issued a "deep" apology to Hajj pilgrims for its inability to transport them to the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, due to the Houthis' detention of four of its aircraft.
The company explained in a statement that the Houthi group had detained four of its aircraft at Sana'a International Airport, considering this a threat to the safety of aviation in the country. It stated that this "reinforces the difficulty of operating flights to and from within the country."
The Ministry of Transport in the internationally recognized Yemeni government said that more than 1,300 pilgrims remain stranded at King Abdulaziz International Airport and in the holy lands. It stated that the Houthi violations against the national carrier have continued since the freezing of the company's financial assets in March 2023, which exceeded $100 million.