What happened
On the date of the accident, a military transport aircraft was performing a mission to move personnel from Boufarik to Tindouf, with a planned stop in Béchar, Algeria. The flight was carrying a total of 257 occupants, consisting of 10 crew members and 247 passengers, including soldiers and their families.
During the initial climb from Boufarik Air Base, which is situated approximately 25 km southwest of Algiers, the aircraft reached an altitude of roughly 150 meters. At this stage of flight, the plane began an uncontrolled descent. The aircraft struck an agricultural area near the airfield and was consumed by a post-crash fire. The impact and subsequent flames resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.
Findings
All 257 individuals on board, including 26 members of the Front Polisario, perished in the accident. Preliminary reports from witnesses suggest that the aircraft experienced a fire on the left wing or engine prior to the loss of control.