Ivory Coast plane crashes into the Atlantic Ocean near Abidjan

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] plane has crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from the international airport in Ivory Coast’s main city Abidjan on Saturday, according to reports.

The bodies of two people have been pulled from the wreckage, with another two visible to witnesses.

The crash occurred during a storm with heavy rain and lightning. The aircraft was thought to be a turbo-prop-driven cargo plane.

Apparent images of the crash circulating in local media showed the plane in pieces in the surf as witnesses and officials arrived at the shoreline near Port-Bouet.

The plane was carrying freight for the French army, Koaci.comreported.

One aviation analyst claimed the aircraft was a Soviet-designed Antonov model belonging to a charter company used by the UN.

Its tail appeared to have shorn off from section of the plane where the wings join the fuselage.

Insignia on the tail suggested it may belong to Valan International Cargo Charter, whose logo is a distinctive winged white ‘V’ on a blue background.

A call to the company’s head office in Moldova by The Independent was not answered. The firm operates the Antonov AN-26-100 model.