Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman, Rashad al-Alimi, revealed on Friday that the the Houthi militia threatened to bomb government-held airports across Yemen if a specific Yemeni Airways plane, later destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, wasn't returned to Sanaa from Amman.

Speaking to Russia Today, Al-Alimi detailed the Houthis' ultimatum regarding what he described as the fourth Yemeni Airways aircraft impacted by recent Israeli strikes. The plane had been in Amman, Jordan, and the Houthis reportedly insisted on its return to Sanaa, sending a stark warning via intermediaries.

"If you don't allow the plane to return to Sanaa, we will bomb Aden Airport and other airports in Hadramout, Shabwah, Mokha, and other areas," Al-Alimi quoted the Houthi threat.

The PLC chairman stated that Yemeni authorities "were forced to allow the plane to return to Sanaa to avoid further destruction and military escalation."
He noted Israeli airstrikes then destroyed the aircraft just two days after its return.

Yemeni Airways had announced on May 24, 2025, that one of its planes was returning from Amman to prepare for transporting pilgrims from Sanaa International Airport, amidst ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the airport after previous Israeli bombardments.

Al-Alimi squarely blamed the Houthi group for the destruction of all four Yemeni Airways planes. He asserted that the Houthis deliberately seized the aircraft and insisted on keeping them at Sanaa Airport, even with the clear risk of Israeli targeting.

"We tried to communicate with the group through mediators to get these planes out," Al-Alimi added. "We suggested moving them to Aden, Saudi Arabia, Oman, or any other country, but they refused and insisted on keeping them at the airport. And indeed, the Israeli attacks came and destroyed three planes."

Last Wednesday, the Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed its air force targeted Houthi objectives at Sanaa International Airport, destroying the "last remaining Yemeni Airways plane" that was still in use by the Houthis. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that "Air Force planes bombed terrorist targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist organization at Sanaa Airport, destroying the last plane that was still in use by the Houthis."

Earlier, on May 6, Sanaa International Airport suffered around 15 Israeli airstrikes that hit civilian aircraft, runways, and the passenger terminal, rendering the airport inoperable and destroying three Yemeni Airways planes.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government has held the Houthi group fully responsible for the losses incurred by Yemeni Airways due to the destruction of its aircraft. Western reports indicated that the three initially destroyed planes were uninsured. The Yemeni Ministry of Transport also issued a statement holding the Houthis accountable for the "great losses and destruction" of the three planes at Sanaa Airport, citing the group's "illegal and illegitimate detention" of the aircraft.