Jetliner Crashes Near Timbuktu; 50 Killed

A Soviet-built airliner exploded and crashed shortly after takeoff from the ancient desert town of Timbuktu today, killing 50 of the 51 people aboard, including some tourists, reports from the West African nation said.

Dave Kyzner, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, the capital of the former French colony, said there were about 15 “European- and American-sounding last names on the (passenger) list, but there’s no way of properly identifying them” because the list contained only names and no details as to hometown or nationality.

All Communication Lost

He said a team of U.S. Embassy personnel will visit the crash site Saturday although the embassy had lost all communication with Timbuktu, a fabled Saharan caravan terminal on the Niger River and Mali’s second largest city.

He said Air Mali officials reported the Antonov-24 plane developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff. It turned back to Timbuktu and exploded in the air, apparently when an engine caught fire.

Airline officials said the jet crashed in the desert about two miles from Timbuktu. Kyzner said the plane burned for “between two and three hours.”

The government-owned Mali Press Agency said there was only one survivor, a Malian national, who was in critical condition. There were eight crew members and 43 passengers, the agency said.

A government delegation from Bamako was having trouble reaching the site of the crash, 400 miles northeast of the capital, because of severe sand storms that have swept the drought-stricken region for the last 10 days, the agency reported.

The twice-weekly, three-hour flight between Bamako, Mopti, Gao and Timbuktu is a popular run with adventure-seekers. Timbuktu is a popular site for American tourists.

Passports Stamped

Many travelers to Africa fly from Bamako to the dusty desert town, stop overnight in one of the two hotels, get their passports stamped at the local police station and fly back to the capital.