Witnesses saw the plane burn and heard explosions, according to the Athens News agency. Eight people of Ukrainian descent were on board. None of them survived the accident. The fire brigade deployed seven fire engines, but could not approach the wreckage because of the explosions.
The Antonov aircraft had taken off from the Serbian city of Nis and was destined for the Jordanian capital Amman. The pilot would have asked for permission to make an emergency landing in Kavala, but just didn’t make it. The plane eventually crashed near the village of Paleochori in an uninhabited area, about 40 kilometers from the airport.
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The fire brigade and emergency services had initially arrived en masse, but subsequently withdrew pending special teams after two emergency workers had to be taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. All journalists and spectators present were also ordered to leave the area immediately.
Authorities are concerned about the risk of toxic fumes from the burning wreckage and have asked local residents to keep doors and windows closed and turn off the air conditioning.
Stefanovic confirms that there was ammunition on board, as much as 11.5 tons. It would be ammunition for mortars, which is produced in Serbia. The aircraft had all the necessary permits for transport. Claims in the media that the device would transport weapons from Serbia to Ukraine are therefore not correct, according to the minister. “Completely wrong,” Stefanovic said. It was a contract with the Ministry of Defense of Bangladesh, fully in line with international rules, it sounds.