An Algerian passenger plane with 116 people on board disappeared from radar in northwest Africa on Thursday in what appears to be the third airline disaster in a week.
Citing an Algerian aviation official, Reuters is reportingthat the plane crashed. "I can confirm that it has crashed," the source said.
Air Algerie Flight 5017 was en route from Ouagadougou, the capital of the west African nation of Burkina Faso, to Algiers, and it lost contact with Algerian aviation authorities around 9:55 p.m. ET (1:55 a.m. GMT) as it was flying over Mali. Air Algerie saidit had no further information on the plane's whereabouts.
The airport where Flight 5017 originated published a map of where the plane was traveling when it disappeared from radar. The airport's caption says it's likely the crash zone, but there is no official confirmation if and where the plane crashed.