The bear was later found dead near the local airstrip.

The local airstrip in Cold Bay is closed at least 100 days a year due to severe weather.

The incident occurred about two kilometres from the local airstrip though it is not yet known if the aircraft was landing or taking off.

But he also acknowledged the extreme instability of the area, where gunfire and explosions are heard daily and where the local airstrip was recently shelled.

Nearly 100 tonnes of supplies have been flown from Juba, the capital, to local airstrips in recent days, the FAO said.