Cargo plane crashes off Ivory Coast

Four Moldovan nationals have been killed and two others injured when a cargo plane crashed into the sea near the airport in the main city of Ivory Coast.

Four French citizens survived the crash but were injured.

Several Ivorian security sources said French soldiers were among the wounded.

Four Moldovans killed in Ivory Coast plane crash – security minister https://t.co/D0ihseHD61 pic.twitter.com/QAe0Ub2tiI— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 14 octobre 2017

No one appears to have been hurt on the ground.

Bad weather

The crash happened during a storm with heavy rain and lightning. Rescuers were hampered by rough seas.

Officials say it is not immediately clear what cased the plane to crash.

The four injured French citizens are being treated at the French military base next to the airport.

France’s ambassador to Ivory Coast quickly arrived on the scene, along with French gendarmes and soldiers.

French military base

The French military operates a logistics base next to the airport in support of its Barkhane operation. This targets Islamist militants in West Africa’s Sahel region.

What they are saying

“This was a plane chartered by the French army in the framework of the Barkhane force in order to carry out logistical missions,” – French army spokesman Colonel Patrick Steiger