MISSING PLANE: Algerian airliner with 116 on board vanishes

Flight AH 5017 had 116 on board and has lost contact over an area of 'bad weather' and 'armed forces'.

By Dave Lancaster |

13:11 24 July 2014

Air Algerie - Algeria's national airline - has confirmed that it has lost contact with one of its passenger planes 50 minutes after take-off.

Flight AH 5017 had 116 on board - 110 passengers and six crew - Spanish airline Swiftair (the owners of the plane) stated.

An unnamed Air Algerie company source was quoted by the BBC: "In keeping with procedures, Air Algerie has launched its emergency plan.

"The plane was not far from the Algerian frontier when the crew was asked to make a detour because of poor visibility and to prevent the risk of collision with another aircraft on the Algiers-Bamako route."

"Contact was lost after the change of course."

It should have landed at 0510GMT but its last movement seen by authorities was at 0155.

The plane was a Swiftair MD-83 passenger airliner.

UN troops in Mali stated to the BBC that there was "very bad weather" and "armed troops" within the region.