Algeria: At least 257 killed in military plane crash

At least 257 people have been killed after a military plane crashed near the Boufarik airbase outside the Algerian capital, Algiers, according to Algerian state television.

The plane, an Ilyushin Il-76, which was carrying mostly soldiers, went down shortly after takeoff on Wednesday morning, state TV reported.

Algeria's defence ministry was quoted as saying that 247 passengers and 10 crew members were among the dead following the crash.

Al Jazeera's Mereana Hond reports.