The aircraft crashed several hours ago, but it is still engulfed in flames. Experts from the army and the Greek Atomic Energy Commission were to deploy a drone on Sunday July 17 to approach the wreckage of the Antonov cargo plane which crashed near Paleochori Kavalas, in the northern Greece, on the evening of Saturday July 16.
The aircraft was flying between Serbia and Jordan and all eight crew members died in the crash, Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said. The latter specified that the plane was carrying around 11 tons of armaments, in particular illuminating mortar mines, bound for Bangladesh. According to state broadcaster ERT, the plane was operated by a Ukrainian airline.
What do we know about the device?
The Antonov 12 was owned by the Ukrainian company Meridian. “As for the identity of the crew, I think they are also Ukrainians but we have no information on this subject, they are not Serbs”, said Nebojsa Stefanovic during a press conference. The plane took off from Nis airport in southern Serbia at around 8:40 p.m.
The aircraft was carrying about eleven tons of armament bound for Bangladesh, including illuminating mortar mines. Seven fire engines were deployed to the scene of the crash, without being able to approach the aircraft which continued to be shaken by explosions. The cargo was initially unknown and the rescuers therefore kept their distance, for fear of a dangerous cargo.
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On Saturday evening, people living within a 2 km radius of the crash site were asked to stay at home and wear masks. On Sunday, two firefighters were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties from toxic fumes. Police asked reporters close to the crash to put on masks.
What are the circumstances of the crash?
The Antonov An-12 cargo plane crashed on Saturday evening near Paleochori Kavalas. Witnesses saw the device on fire and heard explosions, according to the Athens News news agency. “At 10:45 p.m., I was startled by the sound of an airplane engine. I got out and saw an airplane on fire”, Giorgos Archontopoulos told public television ERT. Images relayed on social networks and indeed show a ball of fire crossing the black sky.
According to press reports, the plane was flying between Serbia and Jordan, and had just requested an emergency landing permit at the Greek airport of Kavala, but it did not complete the maneuver in time. . “The plane crashed about two kilometers from a populated area”said the mayor of Paggaio, a neighboring town, on the Open TV channel.
Is there a connection with the war in Ukraine?
“Some media have speculated that this flight was allegedly transporting armaments to Ukraine, which is completely untrue”said the Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic. According to him, Serbia has not issued any authorization for any arms export to Ukraine or Russia since 2016, when every arms order is listed in electronic form.
According to the Serbian minister, the majority of cargo planes carrying armaments are of Soviet production and in the possession of Ukraine, Russia or Belarus. As these two countries are under international sanctions, only Ukrainian transport planes are active and “committed around the world”. “Apart from the fact that they are the property of Ukrainian companies, no other link exists between these goods and Ukraine”said the Minister.