AMN/ WEB DESK
A cargo plane which crashed in northern Greece was carrying 11 tonnes of weapons – including landmines – to Bangladesh, officials say. People living within two kilometres of the site where the Antonov-12 came down have been warned to stay indoors. The aircraft was flying from Serbia to Jordan when it crashed late on Saturday close to the city of Kavala, killing all eight people on board.
All eight crew members were killed when a Ukrainian-operated cargo plane carrying military goods crashed in Greece en route from Serbia to Bangladesh, the Serbian defence minister said.
Eyewitness video showed the plane on fire and a huge fireball as it crashed. On Sunday morning, drones were being used to survey the site of the wreckage out of caution. Greek state-run TV reported the army, explosives experts and Greek Atomic Energy Commission staff would not approach the site until it was deemed safe.
The pilot had reportedly requested an emergency landing at Kavala airport in Greece, due to an engine problem shortly after take off, but was unable to reach the runway.
Serbia’s Defence Minister Nebojša Stefanovic said that the plane was transporting almost 11 tonnes of Serbian-made weapons to Bangladesh.