All eight crew members of a Ukrainian cargo plane carrying weapons that crashed near the Greek city of Kavala on Saturday were killed in the crash, the Serbian defense minister announced on Sunday.
The plane, An Antonov 12, owned by the Ukrainian company Meridian LTD, was carrying around 11 tons of weapons, including mortar mines, to Bangladesh when it crashed on Saturday night.indicated Nebojsa Stefanovic, reported the AFP agency.
“Unfortunately, according to the information we received, all eight crew members died in the accident,” Stefanovic said. at a press conference.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed the identity of the eight victims, all Ukrainian nationals, whose bodies were recovered.
✈International | A Ukrainian cargo plane crashed in #Greece pic.twitter.com/4d9jOTjnzp
— Channel 5 News (@5noticiasuy) July 17, 2022
“The main cause of the accident is the failure of one of the engines”Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on his Facebook account.
The plane took off from Nis airport (southern Serbia) on Saturday and was carrying weapons from the Serbian company Valir, According to Stefanović
The pilot requested permission to make an emergency landing at the Greek airport of Kavalabut did not manage to do it in time.
The Greek rescue services used a drone this Sunday to fly over the remains of the plane, due to the danger of the cargo.
Eight dead in cargo plane crash in Greece
The victims were of Ukrainian nationality. Experts investigate whether there are traces of chemical substances or explosive charge in the area. The plane was carrying 11.5 tons of mortar ammunition.#DWNews /cvml pic.twitter.com/RJqsHZcSWJ
— DW Spanish (@dw_espanol) July 17, 2022
The Ukrainian consul, Vadim Sabluk, went to the scene of the accident on Sunday.
For its part, Bangladesh confirmed that it was the recipient of the shipment of “training mortar howitzers procured from Serbia for the Bangladesh Army and Border Guard”.
The Serbian Defense Minister stated that it was a transaction agreed with the Defense Ministry of Bangladesh “respecting international rules”.
“Some media outlets said that the plane was allegedly carrying weapons to Ukraine, which is completely untrue.”assured.
A special unit is expected to restrict the area, the Ministry of Civil Protection reported in a statement on Sunday.
Plane carrying military ammunition crashed in Greece, all crew members were killed. It was an Antonov 12 operated by a Ukrainian cargo airlinehttps://t.co/SoSf5KDhW6
— CNN in Spanish (@CNNEE) July 17, 2022
“Members of the fire service with special equipment and measuring instruments approached the point of impact of the aircraft and closely examined the fuselage and other scattered parts,” Marios Apostolidis told reporters.of the Greek fire brigade.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane on fire and hearing explosions.
A resident of Kavala, Giorgos Archontopoulos, told ERT public television that he knew something was wrong when he heard the noise the aircraft was making.
“I was surprised by the noise of the engine,” he recounted, “I got out and saw the engine on fire.”
Authorities asked people living within a two-kilometre radius of the crash site to stay indoors and wear masks.
While, Two firefighters were taken to hospital early Sunday with breathing difficulties due to toxic fumes.
The Greek news agency said the causes of the accident will be investigated.
