By Costas Kantouris The Associated Press
Posted on July 16, 2022 at 6:06 PM
Updated July 16, 2022 at 7:29 PM
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An Antonov cargo plane operated by a Ukrainian-based airline crashed Saturday near the northern Greek city of Kavala, authorities said.
Greek Civil Aviation authorities say the flight was going from Serbia to Jordan, but have not been able to confirm how many people were on board or what the cargo was on the plane. It was operated by Meridian, a cargo carrier.
The pilot managed to alert authorities to a problem in one of the plane’s engines and was given the opportunity to land at Thessaloniki or Kavala airport. He opted for Kavala, which was closer, but the plane crashed about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the airport, the Greek Civil Aviation Authority said.
Firefighters are seen near the scene of the plane crash, a few miles from the northern Greek city of Kavala, on Saturday, July 16, 2022. An Antonov cargo plane operated by an airline based in Ukraine crashed Saturday near the town of Kavala in northern Greece, authorities said. Greek Civil Aviation authorities say the flight was going from Serbia to Jordan, but have not been able to confirm how many people were on board or what the cargo was on the plane. (Ilias Kotsireas / InTime News via AP)
“We were hearing explosions until a few minutes ago,” Filippos Anastassiadis, mayor of Paggaio municipality, told the Associated Press. “I’m about 300 yards from the crash site.”
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Locals reported that they had seen a fireball. The blasts have sparked speculation among locals and some Greek media that the plane was carrying explosives.
State broadcaster ERT reported that army explosives experts were on their way to the site, located on farmland near two villages that are part of Paggaio municipality.
Firefighters have cordoned off the area.
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