Algiers, Mar 28 (IANS): Twelve Algerian troops were killed and two more injured when a military helicopter crashed on Sunday evening in the southern area of Reggane, the country's Defence Ministry confirmed.
"A military Mi-171 type helicopter of the Algerian Air Force crashed on Sunday, March 27, 2016 at 18:00 (GMT) during a scheduled mission conducted near Reggane in the province of Adrar following a technical breakdown," said the Defence Ministry in a statement, Xinhua reported.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of this incident, according to the statement.
Algeria has witnessed some 15 plane crashes since independence in 1962. The deadliest crash occurred in March 2003 as 97 passengers were killed when an Air Algerie plane crashed shortly after taking off from Tamanrasset airport in southern Algeria.