Algerian plane with 116 on board disappears from radar

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An Air Algerie flight flying from Burkina Faso to Algeria with 116 people on board has dropped off radar.

Swift Air, the operators of the aircraft, say they lost contact with the flight 50 minutes after it took off this morning from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It was supposed to have arrived at Algiers' Houari Boumediene Airport about four hours later but the plane has just disappeared.

"We have lost contact with the plane. At this moment, emergency services and our staff are working on finding out more on this situation." Swiftair said.

The plane, an MD-83, has 110 passengers on-board with 2 pilots and four crew members. Air Algerie is Algeria's national airline. Update: The plane crashed in Niger...continue for details...

It's been confirmed that the plane crashed near the capital of Niger, Niamey. Flight AH5017 was reported to be flying through an area affected by violent storms.