Nairobi - Kenya Airways confirmed early today that one of its aircraft ditched into the sea shortly after taking off from Ivory Coast's capital, Abidjan, last night - saying 169 passengers and crew were on board at the time.
Small boats later rescued a survivor from the sea but there were also bodies floating at the scene, rescuers said. The survivor, a Nigerian, told rescuers the plane had crashed three minutes after takeoff, rescue sources said.
"At this point, we can not accurately tell you the extent of damage or possible injuries other than to say that it has involved 169 souls, passengers and crew," a Kenya Airways spokesman said earlier. Reports had said there were 169 passengers and 10 crew members aboard.
The plane, an Airbus 310, was heading to Lagos and then to Nairobi. Witnesses said the Airbus plane dove into the sea immediately after takeoff. No explosion was at first reported.