Senior Algerian military spokesman Col Lahmadi Bouguern has suggested that today's fatal crash of an air force Lockheed C-130 Hercules was probably related to bad weather. He says there was high wind and turbulence over the surrounding mountainous terrain, and poor visibility in snow.
The aircraft was approaching runway 34 at Constantine airport, which has an elevation of 2,316ft (706m), when it hit high ground, killing all four crew and 99 passengers.
According to Flightglobal's Ascend database of military aircraft, there have been 416 serious accidents involving C-130s since the type first entered service with the US Air Force in the 1950s. More than 2,500 of the type have been built, and considering the variety of military roles performed the aircraft is considered very safe. The air force of neighbouring Morocco lost a Hercules in July 2011, with 71 killed on board.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
