Paris  - One person has died and six were missing and feared dead after an Airbus A320 aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during a training flight, France Info radio reported on Thursday.

The aircraft reportedly plunged into the water just off the coast after taking off from the French city of Perpignan in late afternoon.

Boats, planes and a helicopter have been deployed to the site of the crash to look for survivors. One body has been recovered from the water.

Airbus was unable to confirm the report. "We have no certain information" about the incident, Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said. (dpa)