PARIS—An Algerian military cargo plane crashed Friday in southern France with six people aboard, the North African country's defense ministry confirmed. The fate of those on the aircraft was not immediately known.

The plane went down around 4 p.m. in Trelans, a town 375 miles (605 kilometers) south of Paris, according to local officials.

The Sipa news agency cited an unnamed witness as saying a parachute was spotted in the sky at the time of the crash, but gave no more details.

Firefighters fought a blaze at the scene of the crash, Sipa reported, citing local police.

The plane carried five military personnel and one official of the Algerian national bank, the Algerian defense ministry said. It had taken off from Paris and was returning to Algeria.