Wreckage of Air Algerie plane carrying 116 people found in Mali

The aircraft, operated by Spanish charter firm Swiftair on behalf of Air Algerie, planned to fly from Burkina Faso to Algeria, but disappeared from the radar 50 minutes after taking off.

Late on Thursday, authorities in Algeria, Mali and Burkina Faso confirmed that the plane crashed, as the plane wreckage were found in the area of Gossi, northeast of Mali, near border with Burkina Faso.

An investigation was launched to find out the causes of the crash, while the first black box was found and yet to be exploited by investigators.

Observers believe that rescue operation and investigations could be hindered due to potential terrorist threat, as Gossi is located in the locality of Gao, which is marked by the presence of extremist militants affiliated to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

The wrecks of the plane were discovered by French Air Force units stationing in Mali, tasked with fighting militants there, which launched joint reconnaissance operation with Algerian Air Force warplanes.

Meanwhile, Algerian Transport Minister Omar Ghoul told the local TSA news website on Friday that he is traveling to Mali and Burkina, where he is scheduled to meet with top officials there, in order to collect more information about this tragic crash.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Friday declared a three-day national mourning in memory of the victims.

"President Abdelaziz Bouteflika declares a national three-day mourning as by Friday, following the crash of an Air Algerie flight on Thursday, which killed 116 passengers of different nationalities, including Algerians," APS quotes a statement of the President Office as saying.