July 24, 2014 – Thirty-one Africans including one Nigerian were among the 116 passengers killed Thursday when the Algerian Plane, AH 5017 crashed after veering-off the radar.
31 Africans, Including Nigerian Killed in Algerian Plane Crash
The plane which took off from Burkina Faso enroute Algeria but dropped off the radar 50 minutes after takeoff, in the early morning hours Thursday.
According to a list of the 110 passengers released by aviation authority , 50 of the passengers on board are French nationals, 24 from Burkina Faso, six Lebanese, five Canadians, four Algerians, two from Luxemburg and one each from Switzerland, Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali.
The six crew members are from Spain. So far no names have been released.
Burkina Faso Transport Minister Jean Bertin Ouedraogo said the flight asked to change route at 1:38 a.m. GMT when it encountered stormy weather.
Meanwhile detectives say the wreckage of the plane has been found in Mali, West Africa.
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“It is confirmed that Canadians are among the victims,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the passengers and crew who lost their lives in this tragedy.” He also said the government is providing “support on the ground..
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