52 killed in military plane crash in eastern Algeria

At least 52 people were killed on Tuesday when a military plane belonging to the Algerian Air Force crashed in the country's eastern Oum El Bouaghi province, official news agency APS said. The plane, which carried a total of 77 people, including crew members, took off from Tamenrasset airport, some 2000 km southeast of capital Algiers and headed to the Constantine airport, eastern the country, according to APS. One survivor of the crash has been found, the report quoted spokesman for the 5th Military Region, Colonel Lahmadi Bouguern as saying. Earlier, local Ennahar TV put the death toll of the crash at 103, saying the air traffic control of Constantine Airport had lost contact with the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, which was carrying soldiers and their family members, before the accident. The crash occurred in Djbel el Fertas area in the locality of Ain Kercha, some 400 km east of capital Algiers, when the plane began to approach the Constantine airport. It is reported that lack of visibility and strong winds prevented the pilots from setting control on the plane. The search and rescue operations are underway. A fact-finding committee has been set up to determine the circumstance of the acciden