A YOUNG child has been found dead in the undercarriage of a plane which had just landed in Paris, according to reports.
The child, believed to be around the age of 10, was discovered shortly after the flight from Abidjan landed in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris yesterday morning, 7 January 2020.
The tragic incident was confirmed by Air France in a tweet after a concerned member of the public asked if it was true that a "stowaway" died on a flight from the Ivory Coast city.
In the short statement, the company said in French:
"Air France confirms that the lifeless body of a clandestine passenger was discovered in the well of the landing gear of flight AF703 from Abidjan to Charles de Gaulle, Paris on January 7 2020".
Air France confirme que le corps sans vie d’un passager clandestin a été découvert dans le puits du train d’atterrissage de l’appareil effectuant le vol AF703 reliant Abidjan (ABJ) à Paris-Charles de Gaulle le 7 janvier 2020 1/2
— Air France FR (@AirFranceFR) January 8, 2020
Air France did not mention the age of the deceased child, but confirmed that an investigation is underway and offered its condolences, saying that the company "deplores this human drama".
Sources close to the investigation have indicated to French media that the child is believed to be around the age of 10.
An Ivory Coast security source told news source AFP that "Aside from the human drama, this shows a major failing of security at Abidjan airport".
