Update: The Air Algerie flight AH20120 travelling from Algiers to Marseille returned safely to the airport. According to local media reports, the plane had suffered a technical problem and landed safely. The plane had declared an emergency and then disappeared off the radar. CEO of Air Algerie was quoted saying by Algerie 1 news website: “After flying for half an hour, the pilot announced a technical incident and turned around.” The CEO added that the reason for the snag is still unknown.

It’s believed that all passengers are safe. A source reportedly told RIA Novosti: “The plane disappeared half an hour after taking off when it was some 7,000 meters above the Mediterranean, but half an hour ago it returned to Algerian International Airport.”

An Air Algerie flight disappeared from the radar after declaring a mid-air emergency, reports several media outlets. According to reports, Air Algerie Boeing 737-600 took from Algiers this afternoon at 1:30 PM local time at Marseille but declared a mid-air emergency. The flight radar showed the plane turn around and head back towards its take off point but it disappeared before that. Plane tracking site Flight Radar 24, listed the plane’s status as unknown. The site said on Twitter: “"We believe Air Algérie AH1020 to be a *coverage issue* NOT a missing aircraft. Our ADS-B coverage in Algeria is limited."

There are 123 seats on the plane and it’s not known how many passengers and crew were on board. The incident comes a few days after an Emirates plane crash landed in Dubai, where miraculously all passengers survived but a firefighter lost his life while trying to put out the blaze.

Watch this space for more updates