Latest Updates:
Two French fighter jets located wreckage of Air Algerie flight AH5017 in Mali, French defense ministry tells to media.
Read Initial story published by Dispatch News Desk to click this link
Updates in previous story
Algerian Ennahar TV reports that Air Algerie AH5017 crashed or shot down over/in Niger. However reports did not elaborate that how and why Flight AH5017 diverted from its original air route that goes over Mali instead of Niger. Meanwhile French authorities fear that there were likely French people on board. More reports coming. Bad weather is consider as possible reason for crash but nothing is certain at the moment. Initial information suggested that 50 French, 24 Burkinabe, eight Lebanese, four Algerians, two from Luxembourg, one Belgian, one Swiss, one Nigerian were in flight. Spanish airline Swiftair was technically owned aircraft MD-83 that was operated by Air Algeria.
Ennahar TV claims that Air Algerie flight AH5017 crashed in Niger after flying through violent storms. TV said that the region was badly affected by violent storms and it was earlier said the plane was rerouted while it was flying over Mali. Meanwhile BBC reported that flight disappeared between Gao and Tessalit, in northern Mali while flying to destination. A McDonnell Douglas MD-83 passenger plane operated under Air Algerie AH5017 title was disappeared after 50 minutes of its flight. There were fears that it crashed somewhere en route.
If someone check weather system on the path of ill-fated AH5017– it indicates that weather was real rough and storm was on flight path with rising clouds above 40,000ft. This is difficult for a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 passenger plane to bear such weather. This could be a reason that AH-5017 changed its original path/route and went towards Niger but could not sustain and crashed. However nothing is confirmed yet and this is a developing story. Official status of flight is still Missing unless. Meanwhile, French army says two french fighter jets based in North Africa has been dispatched to try to locate missing AH5017 or its wreckage.
Flighttrader24 confirmed the crash as:
Air Algerie/Swiftair flight #AH5017 EC-LTV is now confirmed crashed in Niger. Still no info about passengers and crew pic.twitter.com/rq0YwHsXxQ
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 24, 2014
Early story
Fears increasing Air Algerie AH5017 crashed or shot down over Mali?
Monitoring Desk: Since six hours have passed and missing Air Algerie AH5017 has not established any contact with Air Traffic Control or with ground, there are increasing fears that Plane has crashed or shot down over Mail. Senior French officials are now claiming that fighters in Mali may have shot down the Algerian plane. “Nothing is confirmed yet but fears are strong for another air plane disaster”, said experts.Spanish airline Swiftair was technically owned aircraft MD-83 that was operated by Air Algeria.
“Air Algerie’s Flight #AH5017 was in Mali airspace, near Algeria border when it disappeared off radar. No contact for more than 7 hours. There are fears that plane has either crashed or shot down in Mali air space”, maintained a local waiting at airport.
Air Algerie AH5017 disappeared with 116 persons on-board on Thursday when AH5017 lost contact with Air Traffic Control after leaving Burkina Faso after 50 minutes of its departure and when it was flying over Mali desert. Flight was scheduled from Ouagadougou to Algiers. Plane has Registration# EC-LTV had its first flight in 1996. According to Air Algerie’s inventory listing, the Ouagadougou service is operated by a leased MD-83. ACARS data show that EC-LTV has been operating flights on behalf of Air Algérie in the past few days. Spanish airline Swiftair was technically owned aircraft MD-83 that was operated by Air Algeria.
International Safety organisation shows status of Flight AH5017 as Missing and stating as:
Air traffic control lost contact with Air Algérie flight 5017, according to the Algerian APS press service.
Flight ALG5017 departed Ouagadougou Airport (OUA), Burkina Faso on a regular service to Algiers, Algeria. Contact was lost about 50 minutes after departure.
Official statement of Swiftair released
Swiftair MD83 aircraft reports that his company operated for Air Algerie took off at0117 Z Burkina Faso Algiers destination and estimated time of arrival at 0510 Z not destination has been reached. There is no contact so far with the aircraft. On the plane traveling 110 passengers and 6 crew, of which 2 are 4 are pilots and cabin crew. At this moment emergency equipment and personnel Company are working to find out what happened and As you get to know more details of what happened they will issue new releases.
Number 17 played a mysterious role in the recent air crashes.
AH5017 has number 17. MH17 Boeing 777-200 shot down/crashed on July 17, 2014 and had its first flight precisely 17 year ago on July 17, 1997. On the day of its crash, it was its 17 birthday. It crashed/shot down on July 17. MH17 disappeared/crashed/shot down at 1717 hours of Ukraine time.
