Algerian Military Plane Crashes Near Boufarik Airbase, 257 Dead
A military plane crashed near the Boufarik airbase outside the Algerian capital, Algiers today. According to media reports, More than hundred military personnel have been reported killed. Algeria's Ennahar TV reported that more than 100 people were on the plane, an Ilyushin Il-76.
Algiers, April 11: A military plane crashed in Algeria on Wednesday. According to details available, the crash was reported near the Boufarik airbase outside the Algerian capital, Algiers. As per Algerian emergency services 257 people died in the crash.
According to local media reports, the plane - Ilyushin Il-76 - was heading towards the western Algerian city of Bechar. The total number of passengers onboard could not be confirmed.
Thick smoke coming out of the wreckage can be seen in the pictures posted on an Algerian website. The crash at Boufarik is considered to be the worst in Algeria since 2003 when an Air Algerie jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Tamanrasset, killing 102 people, reported Al Jazeera. According to TV reports, around 14 ambulances were at the scene and injured people were being transferred to hospital. The head of the army has ordered an investigation into the crash, according to a statement from the Algerian defence ministry.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2018 03:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).