Sanaa , Yemen ( CNN ) -- A small military cargo plane crashed in the Yemeni capital on Wednesday , killing all 10 passengers , the country 's defense ministry said . The plane caught fire shortly after taking off from Sanaa International Airport , airport officials said . The crew tried to head back to the airport , but the plane crashed near a public market in the Hasaba area of Sanaa . The defense ministry said passengers were on a pilot training mission , with the head pilot instructing trainees from the government 's armed forces . The cause of the fire -- and subsequent crash -- is under investigation , Sanaa government official Abdul Qader Hilal said .
The plane crashed near a public road in Sanaa , killing all passengers . The passengers were on a military training mission , the aviation ministry says .