At least 12 people have been killed after a military aircraft crashed in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.

It crashed into buildings near "Change Square," the site of two years of anti-government protests, according to witnesses. The death toll is expected to rise as the aircraft caused heavy damage to buildings.

The aircraft was on a training mission, the defence ministry told the Reuters news agency. A security official said the pilot had ejected from the plane. There was no immediate word on whether he had survived.

"It's terrible and painful," resident Abdullah al-Ashwal said. "The police and medics evacuated five completely burned bodies, they were all unrecognisable."

Cars in the area were set on fire, and rescue efforts are ongoing. An eyewitness, Ahmed Fathi, told the Associated Press that at least two houses were completely destroyed, and that people were still believed to be under the rubble.

Medical officials told the Associated Press that the victims included women and children.