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Military personnel and fire fighters try to extinguish a fire at the site of an aircraft crash in Sanaa February 19, 2013. Image Credit: REUTERS

Sana’a: A Yemeni military aircraft ploughed into a building in a residential neighbourhood of Sana’a on Tuesday killing at least seven people, mostly civilians, the emergency services said.

The pilot and six civilians were killed in the crash which occurred near Change Square, an epicentre of the revolt that ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The toll is expected to rise as the aircraft crashed and badly damaged a building which houses residences and shops.

An AFP correspondent reported several ambulances reaching the scene of the crash while helicopters flew overhead.

Television footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the burning wreckage of the aircraft as residents gathered around it.

In November, an Antonov M26 of the Yemeni air force crashed during a training mission in a northern district of Sana’a, killing all 10 occupants.