PRESIDENT DECLARES 3 DAYS OF MOURNING
Admin l Wednesday, April 11, 2018
ALGIERS, Algeria– Not less than 257 people were killed today when a military aircraft, an Ilyushin plane with four engines crashed in Algeria. The plane according to the Algeria Press Agency crashed in Boufarik (Blida), killing 257 people, including ten crew members, the National Defence Ministry (MDN) has said.
Most of the victims of the tragic accident are members of the People’s National Army (ANP) as well as members of their families, the agency reported.
The Ilyushin plane of the Algerian Air Force, took off from Boufarik military airport to Tindouf and Béchar (in the South of Algeria) and crashed at 7:50 a.m. near the air base of Boufarik, on inhabited agricultural field.
Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Algeria, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika has declared three days of national mourning following the crash of a plane of the Air Forces of the People’s National Army in Boufarik (Blida, 50-km south of Algiers), announced the Presidency of the Republic in a communiqué.
“Following the crash of an Ilyushin aircraft of the Armed Forces today in Boufarik leaving 257 people dead, President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika has declared three days of national mourning as from today, 11 April 2018,” said the communiqué.
“The President of the Republic has also called to perform the funeral prayer for the absent on Friday 13 April 2018 in the memory of the victims,” added the Presidency’s communiqué.