According to reports, there were two explosions in total. A second explosion was heard around Maasheq presidential palace where the cabinet members had been taken to safety, residents and local media told Reuters.
All members of the cabinet were “fine”, said Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik.
In the attack, loud blasts and gunfire were heard moments after the plane landed, said the agency citing witnesses. A local security source said three mortar shells were launched and landed on the airport’s hall.
Yemeni officials blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels for being responsible for the attack.
According to Yemen’s interior minister, at least 50 people were wounded in the attack. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) had earlier put the toll of wounded to 17 people being under treatment at its hospital in Aden.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The Saudi-led coalition said it had brought down an explosive-laden Houthi drone that was targeting the presidential palace.
Houthis did not react immediately but denied responsibility for the airport attack.
Government officials as well as aid workers were among the casualties in the airport attack.
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced in a statement that two of its staff members were killed in the airport attack and one was missing.
(Inputs from Reuters and other agencies)
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