© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Algerian Military Transport Plane Crash Kills 257 People Near Boufarik Airport

Smoke rises from the spot where an Algerian military plane crashed into a field in northern Algeria on Wednesday, in this still image taken from Ennahar TV.
Ennahar TV / Reuters
Smoke rises from the spot where an Algerian military plane crashed into a field in northern Algeria on Wednesday, in this still image taken from Ennahar TV.

A military transport aircraft crashed near Algeria's Boufarik Air Base on Wednesday morning, killing at least 257 people, according to Algeria's defense ministry. The plane came down in an open farm field near the base, the ministry says.

The military says it's not yet sure what caused the crash near its large military airport in northern Algeria, a country in North Africa. An investigation has been ordered.

"The number of martyrs to mourn has risen to (247) passengers and ten (10) crew members, most of whom are personnel from the National People's Army as well as members of their families," the Ministry of National Defense said.

The remains of the victims are being taken to an army hospital for identification, the ministry added. There has been no official mention of anyone who survived or was wounded in the crash.

Algeria's longtime leader, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, issued a statement offering his condolences.

"The Almighty, whose will is inevitable, wanted on this day to test Algeria and its military institution through the crash of one of its planes making a large number of martyrs of national duty, a tragedy that pains us and sadden us deep inside our hearts," President Bouteflika said.

Bouteflika told the families that he stays by their sides in all that could ease their grief and pain, praising their courage and stamina.

In the hours after the crash was initially reported, the death toll climbed sharply Wednesday, as emergency and military crews worked at the scene. Video and images from the green field near the airport show rows of covered bodies lined up and a stream of ambulances rolling through nearby streets.

The state news agency says the crashed plane was made by the Russian firm Ilyushin. In recent decades, Algeria has bought military planes from both the U.S. and Russia.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Bill Chappell is a writer and editor on the News Desk in the heart of NPR's newsroom in Washington, D.C.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content