ALGIERS, Algeria — Algeria's Ministry of Defense says 77 people were killed and one man survived after a military transport plane crashed into a mountain in eastern Algeria.

The statement said Tuesday the C130 Hercules turboprop was carrying 74 passengers and four crew members.

After radio and radar contact with the flight was lost at 11:37 a.m. local time, three helicopters were sent to find the plane. The ministry said it had slammed into Mount Fortas, 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the flight's destination city of Constantine.

Initial reports from both Algerian government officials and Algerian media had said the plane was carrying 99 passengers.