ANP plane-crash: Four helicopters and 100 ambulances to transport the bodies

In the biggest air disaster witnessed by Algeria, the region of Oum El Bouaghi, precisely the Ouled Gacem municipality, about 70 Km away from the provincial capital was shaken at around midday on Tuesday by the tragic crash of a military aircraft in the mountainous area of Djebel Fertas near the town of Aïn M’lila in the eastern part of the country.

The 120-seat capacity “Hercules 130 C” aircraft took off earlier in the day from the ANP military airbase in Tamanrasset and made a stop-over in Ouargla in southern Algeria before continuing its journey towards Constantine’s Mohamed Boudiaf airport in the east of the country.

Unfortunately, the casualty-tally was very heavy after the military plane exploded after falling down and hitting the crest of a mountain in the Djebel Fertas area.

Dozens of local inhabitants were also injured after being hit by fiery parts of the crashed plane which were scattered over half a kilometer all around the crash site which was later sealed off by security forces in conjunction with civil protection squads who rushed to the scene of the disaster.

Extra civil protection units were also swiftly dispatched from nearby regions notably from Oum El Bouaghi, Constantine, Mila, Khenchela, Tebessa, Batna and Setif.

Four helicopters were sent forthwith from the cities of Batna and Constantine in addition to about 100 fully-equipped ambulances with the aim of transporting the bodies to the mortuaries of the University Hospital of Constantine and those of the Military Hospital located in the town of El Khroub also in the eastern part of the country.

According to official sources, out of all the passengers and 4 crew-members on board, only one passenger survived the crash and was rushed to Aïn M’lila hospital and later on to that of Constantine. His health condition is said to be very serious.

According to preliminary information, the control tower of the International Airport of Constantine lost contact with the plane at around 11h 37mn am on Tuesday.

 The bad weather conditions prevailing in the region over the past two days, marked notably by snow storms and strong winds, have been blamed for the plane crash.

Several senior military officers led by vice-Defense Minister and Army chief of staff Ahmed Saleh Gaid also arrived at the scene of the plane – crash on Tuesday and ordered the setting up of a crisis cell headed by the regional air force commander Said Mammeri.

This cell was in charge of getting into contact with the relatives of the victims of the air crash in addition to forming a team of investigators entrusted with determining the exact causes surrounding this tragic event.

Meanwhile, widespread scenes of deep distress, sadness and emotion were reported at the airport of Constantine where many relatives of the victims of the plane crash were waiting for their return home safe and sound but unfortunately destiny decided otherwise.