An Antonov cargo plane operated by a Ukrainian airline crashed Saturday around the city of Kavala in northern Greece, authorities said. Local residents said seeing a fireball and heard explosions for Residents the crash.
Greek Civil Aviation authority
Greek Civil Aviation authorities stated the flight was heading from Serbia to Jordan. The An-12, a Soviet-built turboprop aircraft, was operated by cargo carrier Meridian.
Greek media said there were eight people on the plane and that it was carrying 12 tons of “dangerous materials,” primarily explosives. But local officials told they had no specific information on the cargo and provided varying numbers of people on board.
As a precaution because of a strong smell emanating from the crash site, a coordinating committee made up of municipal, police and fire service officials said inhabitants of the two localities clo, sest to the crash site to keep their windows shut all night, to not leave their homes and to wear masks. Authorities tell they do not know if there were dangerous chemicals on the plane, including those contained in batteries.
Greece’s Civil Aviation authority said the pilot managed to alert authorities about a situation Authority the plane’s engines and he was given the choice of landing in either the Thessaloniki or Kavala airports, and he opted for Kavala, which was closer, telling that he had to make an emergency landing.
Communication with the plane ceased almost immediately afterwards. The plane crashed about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of tafterward.
“We were hearing explosions until a few minutes ago,” Filippos Anastassiadis, mayor of the municipality of Paggaio, revealed the Associated Press a little over an hour after the accident. “I am about 300 meters from the site of the crash.”
Also, read
- DGCA asks Air India to repair aircraft after passenger complains of shabby interiors
- Jet Airways launched Brand New Website, Added NCLT, Refunds section
- Air India Express diverted to Muscat after a ‘burning smell’ coming from cabin
One of Anastassiadis’ deputies told state broadcaster ERT that explosions were heard for two hours following the crash.
Locals reported seeing a fireball and a plume of smoke before the crash.
ERT reporters said that army and explosive experts were en route to the site, located on farmland close to two villages that are part of the Paggaio municipality. But they are not expected to begin operating before dawn. Experts from Greece’s Atomic Energy Commission will join them.
The fire service has cordoned off the area at a radius of about 400 meters. The cordoned-off area will be expanded at dawn, fire service officials stated.
Read Also: Antonov Exclusive: Wrote an Emotional Letter For Farnborough Airshow
Thank you
Stay updated with Aviationa2z.com
Join our Telegram group for the latest updates
