Saudi Arabia says fighter jet crashed during Yemen mission

Coalition says pilots ejected before the crash but their fate remains unknown

A screen grab from video released by Yemen's Houthi rebels shows Yemenis gathering at the purported crash site after a Saudi Tornado fighter jet crashed in Jawf province. AFP

People rummage through rubble after an air strike in Yemen's Jawf province Yemen in this still image taken from a video. Houthi Media Centre via Reuters

A destroyed vehicle is seen after an air strike in Jawf province. Houthi Media Centre via Reuters

A still from a video released by Houthi rebels shows the site said to be where the Tornado fighter crashed. AFP

A still from a Houthi rebel video shows Yemenis cheering at the site. AFP

Yemenis gather around what appears to be part of the crashed Tornado fighter. AFP

Purported plane wreckage is seen in a still image from a video a Houthi rebel video. Houthi Media Centre via Reuters

People inspect purported plane wreckage in Yemen's Jawf provoince. Houthi Media Centre via Reuters

Purported plane wreckage seen in a Houthi rebel video. Houthi Media Centre via Reuters

People inspect purported plane crash site in Jawf. Houthi Media Centre via Reuters

A Saudi fighter jet crashed in Yemen's Jawf province while carrying out a combat mission on Friday, with the fate of the crew unknown.

Saudi Arabia said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen opened fire on the Tornado jet's crew, who ejected before the crash.

“The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition holds the terrorist Houthi militia responsible for the lives and well-being of the air crew under the international humanitarian law," Coalition spokesman Col Turki Al Malki told the Saudi Press Agency.

"The air crew, consisting of two officers, used ejector seats to escape the plane before it crashed.

"At the same time the terrorist Houthi militia opened fire at the air crew, which is a violation of the customary international humanitarian law.

"As such, the lives and well-being of the air crew is the responsibility of the terrorist Houthi militia.”

The Tornado fighter jet went down at 11.45pm while "providing close air support to units of the Yemeni National Army", Col Al Malki said.

He did not mention the fate of the two crew.

The Saudi-led Arab military coalition intervened in Yemen's civil war in March 2015 at the request of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi after the Iran-backed rebels forced his government to flee the capital, Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia's air force has about 80 of the European-made Tornado fighters in service, aviation website FlightGlobal says.