On the afternoon of August 6, 2016, Air Algeria flight AH1020 from Algiers (ALG) to Marseille (MRS) turned back and landed at Algiers. The Boeing 737-600 had a technical issue warning and had to turn back to be inspected. The plane landed safely about an hour after takeoff and passengers were put on a different aircraft to continue their journey.

Originally, many believed that the aircraft has disappeared from radar, but this is because flight tracking websites use ADSB and MLAT data, NOT radar as some media sources claimed. The northern portion of Algeria has very poor ADSB coverage due to government restrictions which lead to the aircraft not being tracked. FlightRadar24 quickly said that the lack of coverage was the most likely cause of a “disappearance”. In addition, data from takeoff showed that the plane didn’t show in the first place till slightly of the coast.

We believe Air Algérie #AH1020 to be a *coverage issue* NOT a missing aircraft. Our ADS-B coverage in Algeria is limited.

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) August 6, 2016

7T-VJQ, the Boeing 737-6D6 involved in the incident (Photo ©Nils N.):