Ukrainian Cargo Plane Crashes in Algeria’s Sahara

An Ukrainian cargo plane with seven people on board crashed in Algeria’s far south early on Saturday.

Three charred bodies were found at the crash site in Algeria’s Sahara near the borders with Mali and Niger. No survivors have been found so far.

Newswires quoted an unnamed Algerian transport ministry official as saying the Antonov 12 civil aircraft might have crashed for unspecified technical reasons at about 2am local time (0100 GMT) shortly after taking off from Algeria's Tamanrasset airport following a stopover.

According to the official, the aircraft was en route to Equatorial Guinea and carried six Ukrainians and one Russian on board when it crashed 15 km south of Tamanrasset airport.

State-run Algerian television quoted the Transport Ministry as saying in a statement the plane belonged to Ukraine Air Alliance company and carried equipment used in energy industry.

According to the website of Ukraine Air Alliance, the airline has essential experience in transportation of humanitarian cargo for United Nations and operates Antonov 12 aicraft.

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