Air Algerie Flight AH5017 Disappears From Radar



An Air Algerie Flight AH5017 traveling from Burkina Faso to Algiers with 110 passengers and six crew members on board was reported missing and disappeared from radar. It was confirmed Friday that passenger plane crashed in a desolate region of restive northern Mali; Authorities lost contact to the MD83 plane 50 minutes after jet took off from Burkina Faso bound for Algiers.

French Secretary of Transport Frédéric Cuvillier told reporters the plane disappeared over Northern Mali, where Islamist militants are fighting the Malian government and French forces. Numerous French nationals were probably aboard the missing plane, Mr. Cuvillier said.

Reuters

Reports said that Flight AH5017 was operated by Spanish airline Swiftair for Air Algerie. The plane was headed to Algiers, capital of Algeria. Air Algerie is the national carrier of Algeria which flies the four-hour passenger route four times a week

Photos of the crash can be seen here.