Due to a technical malfunction, the “coalition” announces the downing of a plane in Najran and the killing of its pilots

The Saudi-led “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen” announced on Sunday that a reconnaissance helicopter had fallen and crashed in Najran, inside Saudi territory, as a result of a technical malfunction and the death of its pilots. The official spokesman for the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen” led by Saudi Arabia, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, announced in a statement, “The fall and crash of an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter inside Saudi territory in the Najran region, belonging to the Ministry of the National Guard, as a result of a technical malfunction,” according to what was reported by the Saudi “SPA” news agency.

Turki Al-Maliki added, "The accident resulted in the death of its air crew, consisting of two officers, may God have mercy on them." Al-Maliki added in his statement: “We ask the Almighty God to cover them with His vast mercy and accept them as righteous martyrs and to inspire their families and loved ones with patience and solace. We belong to God and to Him we shall return.”

In another post on his account on the “X” platform, formerly Twitter, Turki Al-Maliki responded to the allegations of Houthi militant spokesman Yahya Saree that they shot down a Saudi reconnaissance plane. Al-Maliki said: “You claim it was shot down...it will enter the field soon. Remember its appearance and do not forget it,” accompanying his post with pictures of planes of the same type as the plane.

Yahya Saree claimed that the Houthis were able to shoot down a Saudi Arabian armed reconnaissance aircraft, a "Carial" type, in the airspace of Hajjah Governorate with a suitable weapon, according to what was reported by the Yemeni "Saba" news agency, in its version affiliated with the Houthis. Earlier, the Saudi-led “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen” announced on Sunday the interception and destruction of two ballistic missiles launched by the Iran-backed Houthi group towards the Kingdom.

The coalition spokesman, Turki Al-Maliki, wrote through his account on the X platform: “Intercepting and destroying two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Khamis Mushait.”