On Wednesday, 11th of April 2018, Algeria recorded the deadliest air disaster after a military airplane crashed and killed 257 people. The crash happened just a few minutes after the plane took off from Boufarik Military Airport.

Most of the passengers were soldiers and their family members. In a statement released, the defence ministry said

“The number of martyrs has risen to 247 passengers and 10 members of the crew, most of whom are members of the army as well as their families,”

Though the main cause of the crash is not known yet but investigation is going on.

In a report, a man who witnessed the crash from his home and drove to the scene of the crash with a neighbor said

“We saw bodies … it was a catastrophe,” “We were afraid the plane would explode. We covered some bodies and put out some fires.”

Abd El Karim told Ennahar TV station

“After taking off, with the plane at a height of 150 metres I saw the fire on its wing. The pilot avoided crashing on the road when he changed the flight path to the field,”, 

Another witness said,

“We saw bodies burned. It is a real disaster.”

To honour the victims, the President of Algeria declared a 3 day mourning all over the country. The declaration was made in a statement released by Algeria Press Service.

“Following the crash of an air force Ilyushin today, killing 257 people, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika declared three days of national mourning starting today.”

In a record by BBC News, this latest disaster is the deadliest air disaster to have happened in the country since 2003.

Video source: worlddnewss.com

Our condolence to the families of the victims.