Algeria military plane crashes near Boufarik airport, at least 100 dead.
The cause of the crash was unclear and an investigation has been launched, the country’s defence ministry said in a statement.
Mohammed Achour, chief spokesman for the civil protection agency, said: “There are more than 100 deaths. We can’t say exact how many at this point.”
The jet came down in farmland close to Boufarik airport near Algiers and emergency services have been sent to the crash site.
Black smoke could be seen rising near a motorway in footage broadcast on Algerian television, with a crowd of officials also visible in a field next to the crash site.
The tail fin of a plane could also be seen above olive trees, with smoke and flames billowing from the wreckage.
The country’s state news agency said the Soviet-designed Il-76 plane was heading to Bechar in the south west of the country when it came down some 20 miles (30km) from Algiers soon after take-off.
