- The Antonov An-26 crashed on take off from Abidjan international airport
- The 42-year-old aircraft crashed into the ocean 500 metres from the runway
- Four people have died and six are injured. Two of those have serious injuries
- Witnesses claim the aircraft was trying to take off during a thunder storm
At least four people died when a 42-year-old Soviet-built cargo aircraft crashed into the ocean moments after leaving Abidjan, capital city of the Ivory Coast.
The aircraft, which was carrying cargo for the French military broke up after crashing onto the beach.
Several members of the crew survived according to reports on local media. The airport management company confirmed that six of the crew were injured with two of them in a serious condition.
Investigators believe the Antonov An-26 crashed into the ocean while trying to take off in a thunderstorm from the runway at the international airport in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
The Soviet-built Antonov AN-26 crashed moments after taking off from the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan while carrying cargo for the French military killing at least four people
Witnesses said the aircraft crashed into the ocean moments after taking off from the airport
Miraculously, several people were pulled alive from the wreckage of the aircraft
It is believed that there were ten people on board the aircraft.
The propeller-driven aircraft took off in heavy rain when it crash landed on the beach.
Witnesses say the aircraft crashed moments after taking off. They said they saw at least four bodies, but officials couldn’t yet confirm it.
Hundreds of onlookers gathered at the beach Saturday as rescue workers ran to the scene.
Thousands of people made their way to the crash site to watch the rescue operation
Air crash investigators are currently trying to determine what caused the disaster
Security guards on site said the plane was carrying material for the French army. It was unclear how many people were inside the plane.
The plane wreckage, broken into pieces, was scattered in the shallow waters.
The aircraft, which was built in 1975, was owned by a Moldovan airline, Valan International Cargo Charter.
Ivory Coast’s security minister Sidiki Diakite confirmed four French citizens are among the injured. He said the four people are Moldovans. Two other Moldovans were injured.
MailOnline has approached the company for a comment.
Rescuers removed the bodies from the scene as the injured were being treated
Locals tied ropes to some of the wreckage in an attempt to salvage it from the ocean
Ivorian officials confirmed there are four French citizens among the injured