Algeria: 51st Anniversary of Plane Crash Killing 15 Algerian Journalists in Vietnam
This Saturday marks fifty-one years since the tragic death of fifteen Algerian journalists in a plane crash while on an official mission to cover late President Houari Boumediene’s visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1974.
The Vietnamese military aircraft carrying the Algerian journalists, along with nine Vietnamese journalists, experienced a catastrophic incident on the final day of President Boumediene’s visit to Vietnam—specifically on March 8, 1974.
After taking off from Hanoi International Airport en route to a military airstrip located 60 kilometers away, the aircraft was unable to land due to the narrowness of the runway. While attempting to take off again, the pilot collided with trees, resulting in the deaths of all passengers on board.
In remembrance of the victims of this tragedy, members of the Algerian media community and the Vietnamese authorities erected a commemorative monument in Hanoi in 2000 and named a street in honor of the tragic crash.
The Algerian media delegation included Ahmed Abdellatif (journalist) and cameraman Mohamed Taleb (APS), along with Salah Dib, Abderrahmane Kahwadji, Mahmoud Midat, Mustapha Kaboub, Abdelkader Bouhmia, Mohamed Bekai, Laaredj Boutrif, Rabah Hannad, and Sabti Mouaki (Algerian television), in addition to Mohamed Sahraoui, Tayeb Harkat, Djilali Djedar, and Mohamed Attalah, representing various other media outlets.
