The body of a stowaway - believed to be a child - has been discovered in the landing gear of an aircraft in Paris.

Air France said the body was found on a flight which had arrived from the Ivory Coast in West Africa after a six hour journey on Tuesday evening.

A statement from France's national airline said: "Air France confirms that the lifeless body of a stowaway was found in the landing gear compartment of the aircraft operating flight AF703 from Abidjan to Paris-Charles de Gaulle on 7 January 2020."

It said an investigation is under way and expressed its "deepest sympathy and compassion at this human tragedy".

The airline declined to comment on French media reports that the victim was a young African boy.


A police official said the person had not yet been identified, and added stowaway attempts are extremely rare and nearly impossible to survive.