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Dozens Said to Die in Algerian Military Plane Crash Plane Crash Said to Leave Scores Dead In Algeria
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — An Algerian military plane crashed in a mountainous area of northeastern Algeria on Tuesday, and by nightfall rescuers had recovered at least 76 bodies and one survivor, according to Algerian National Television. PARIS — An Algerian military plane crashed in a mountainous area of northeastern Algeria on Tuesday, and by nightfall rescuers had recovered at least 77 bodies and one survivor, according to Algerian National Television.
It was the first major crash in the country in more than a decade.It was the first major crash in the country in more than a decade.
In a statement, the Algerian Ministry of National Defense described the crash as a “tragic accident” and said that the plane, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a widely used American-made military transport craft, was carrying members of the military and their families. In a statement, the Algerian Ministry of National Defense described the crash as a “tragic accident” and said that the plane, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a widely used American-made military transport craft, had been carrying members of the military and their families.
The Defense Ministry gave no estimate of the number of passengers on board, but different Algerian news outlets reported that at least 102 people had been on the plane, including the crew. Some people at the scene said the number could be higher. At least 76 bodies were found by nightfall. The ministry gave no estimate of the number of passengers on board, but different Algerian news outlets reported that at least 102 people had been on the plane, including the crew. Some people at the scene said the number could be higher.
The Associated Press, quoting an unidentified Algerian intelligence official, said four crew members had been aboard.The Associated Press, quoting an unidentified Algerian intelligence official, said four crew members had been aboard.
The crash site was in a mountainous province, Oum El Bouaghi, about 300 miles from Algiers, the country’s capital.The crash site was in a mountainous province, Oum El Bouaghi, about 300 miles from Algiers, the country’s capital.
The military’s statement said the plane went down in apparently horrendous weather conditions that included a storm and cascading snow, which Algerian aviation experts said most likely led to poor visibility. The military’s statement said the plane had gone down in apparently horrendous weather conditions that included a storm and cascading snow, which Algerian aviation experts said most likely had led to poor visibility.
The meteorological forecasting service AccuWeather, in a release detailing the weather at the time of the crash, noted that “an area of low pressure moving through the region was producing widespread showers mixed with snow in the higher terrain of the area.”The meteorological forecasting service AccuWeather, in a release detailing the weather at the time of the crash, noted that “an area of low pressure moving through the region was producing widespread showers mixed with snow in the higher terrain of the area.”
Eric Leister, an AccuWeather meteorologist, said that “along with the rain and snow,” wind gusts of more than 30 miles per hour were reported in several parts of the region. Eric Leister, an AccuWeather meteorologist, said that “along with the rain and snow,” wind gusts of more than 30 miles per hour had been reported in several parts of the region.
The plane was en route from Ouargla, a city in the country’s midsection, to Constantine, a city in the northeast.The plane was en route from Ouargla, a city in the country’s midsection, to Constantine, a city in the northeast.
The military quickly created a panel to investigate the cause of the crash and sent several military officials to the scene.The military quickly created a panel to investigate the cause of the crash and sent several military officials to the scene.
As night fell, a search-and-rescue mission was still underway, with Algerian journalists using blogs to issue live reports on news of the recovery of bodies based on phone calls to officials at the scene. As night fell, a search-and-rescue mission was still underway, with Algerian journalists using blogs to issue live reports on the recovery of bodies based on phone calls to officials at the scene.
One website, Algérie-Focus, was updating its reports almost every hour, said Abdou Semmar, a writer and editor for the site. One website, Algérie-Focus, was updating its reports almost every hour, said Abdou Semmar, a writer and an editor for the site.
Photographs and video of the plane on the Internet showed the large aircraft on its side on a snow-scattered hillside as several men wearing heavy coats and hats walked toward the wreckage. The weather appeared to be quite poor. It was unclear from the photos and video whether the plane had been trying to land when it crashed.Photographs and video of the plane on the Internet showed the large aircraft on its side on a snow-scattered hillside as several men wearing heavy coats and hats walked toward the wreckage. The weather appeared to be quite poor. It was unclear from the photos and video whether the plane had been trying to land when it crashed.
The last reported air disaster in Algeria was in 2003, when a Boeing 737 operated by Air Algérie, a commercial airline, crashed shortly after takeoff in Tamanrasset when one of the plane’s engines failed. All but one of the 103 people aboard were killed.The last reported air disaster in Algeria was in 2003, when a Boeing 737 operated by Air Algérie, a commercial airline, crashed shortly after takeoff in Tamanrasset when one of the plane’s engines failed. All but one of the 103 people aboard were killed.