Maritime Patrol Aircraft Crash Near Béjaïa (8.S.8)

Incident Overview and Flight Details A maritime patrol aircraft departed from Lartigue Airbase, also known as Tafraoui AFB, in Oran. The flight was intended to conduct a patrol along the coast between Cape Carbon and Cape Tenès in the Algiers region. During the operation, the aircraft was flying northwest of Béjaïa when it encountered strong downdrafts. The aircraft subsequently crashed on rocky terrain overlooking the sea. The incident resulted in the death of the copilot and injuries to three other occupants on board. The crew consisted of T/Sgt Parfait, who served as the pilot; T/Sgt Thinon, the copilot; T/Sgt Pichon, the gunner; and T/Sgt Jean Claude Deniel, the radio operator.