The plane was about to be boarded by Muslim pilgrims bound for the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Israel said the bombing of the airport, which was targeted for the second time this month, had destroyed the last plane used by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

The Israeli Air Force attacked Yemen's Sana'a airport on Wednesday, destroying the last civilian commercial plane that was operating from the Houthi-controlled areas, Houthi and Israeli officials said.