Breaking: Air Algeria Flight AH5017 Disappears From Radar Over North Africa
The plane was flying from Ouagadougou to Algiers but did not reach the city An Algerian passenger plane has reportedly disappeared from radar while flying from the West African country of Burkina Faso.
The airliner carrying 110 passengers and six crew was flying from Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou to Algiers when it vanished around 50 minutes into the flight.
"In keeping with procedures, Air Algerie has launched its emergency plan," Algeria's APS state news agency quoted the airline as saying.
Flight AH5017 is owned by Spanish private airline Swiftair and operated by Air Algerie.
Swiftair said the aircraft took off from Burkina Faso at 1.17am local time and was supposed to land in Algiers at 5.10am local time but never reached its destination.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-83's flight path was not immediately clear.
Ouagadougou is in a nearly straight line south of Algiers, passing over Mali where unrest continues in the north of the country.
However, a senior French official said it is unlikely that fighters in Mali could shoot down a plane. They are known to have shoulder-fired weapons which could not hit an aircraft travelling at a cruising altitude of some 33,000ft.
The airliner carrying 110 passengers and six crew was flying from Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou to Algiers when it vanished around 50 minutes into the flight.
"In keeping with procedures, Air Algerie has launched its emergency plan," Algeria's APS state news agency quoted the airline as saying.
Flight AH5017 is owned by Spanish private airline Swiftair and operated by Air Algerie.
Swiftair said the aircraft took off from Burkina Faso at 1.17am local time and was supposed to land in Algiers at 5.10am local time but never reached its destination.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-83's flight path was not immediately clear.
Ouagadougou is in a nearly straight line south of Algiers, passing over Mali where unrest continues in the north of the country.
However, a senior French official said it is unlikely that fighters in Mali could shoot down a plane. They are known to have shoulder-fired weapons which could not hit an aircraft travelling at a cruising altitude of some 33,000ft.
