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Plane Carrying Military Families Crashes In Algeria

The plane crashed en route to an eastern part of Algeria due to bad weather. There is no official death count, but one survivor has been hospitalized.

Plane Carrying Military Families Crashes In Algeria
Wikimedia Commons / Markus Eigenheer
SMS

An Algerian military transport plane carrying soldiers and their families crashed this morning in the north-eastern part of the country. 

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft was reportedly flying from an airport in the southern part of the country. Witnesses say the plane flew into a snowstorm. (Via KRXI)

 

But the Daily Mail cites a spokesman for the eastern military region saying strong winds are to blame.

According to Algerian media, the plane lost contact with controllers and then clipped the side of a mountain. It crashed about 300 miles from the capital. (Via NECN)

It was initially reported that there were no survivors among the 99 passengers and four crew members aboard.

But the BBC is reporting one survivor has been taken to the hospital. 

This is the worst crash in Algeria since a 2003 incident when an Air Algerie plane experienced mechanical problems and crashed shortly after take off. (Via The Guardian

Algeria's Defense Ministry says it has sent an investigative team and top military officials to the scene.