BREAKING: Algerian Transport Aircraft Crashes; 257 Dead

A military transport aircraft crashed in Algeria, near capital Algerian, killing 257 people, including 10 crew members. It crashed moment after takeoff at Boufarik base.

Releasing a press statement the Algerian Defence Ministry said cause of the crash is not yet known and an investigation has been ordered.

The statement added, “The number of martyrs to mourn has risen to 247 passengers and 10 crew members, most of whom are personnel from the National People’s Army as well as members of their families.”

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika offered his condolences in a statement saying it is a tragedy that pains all of them and sadden them deep inside their hearts.

The plane was Russian firm Ilyushin made and over the period of past several years the country has bought military planes from Russia as well as United States too.

State-run Radio Algerie said the cause of crash is not clear and it is also not known whether there were any survivors.

It was flying from Boufarik to Tindouf and then Bashar.

Both the towns are on the Algerian-Morocco border.

An eyewitness said he heard a loud explosion and drove to the site. He and his neighbors tried to put out fire and reach victims, fearing the plane would explode.

The crash was deadliest since 2014 when 298 people were killed after a Malaysian plane was shot down over Ukraine.

In the same year a Hercules C-130 plane crashed in Algeria’s east. It was carrying members of Algerian air force and their families. 77 people were killed.