Fears over dangerous chemicals, explosive cargo after deadly plane crash in northern Greece
Specialists are set to analyze the location of a lethal aircraft crash in northern Greece Sunday to find out whether or not any harmful chemical substances or explosive cargo stays.
The Antonov An-12 cargo aircraft smashed into fields between two villages late Saturday. Native residents reported seeing a fireball and listening to explosions for 2 hours after the crash. A plume of white smoke was nonetheless rising from the entrance finish of the aircraft on Sunday morning.
Serbian Defence Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic advised a information convention Sunday that every one eight crew members have been killed. He stated the aircraft was carrying 11.5 tons of Serbian-made mortar ammunition to Bangladesh, which was the client. It had taken off from the Serbian metropolis of Nis and had been because of make a stopover in Amman, Jordan.
The aircraft was operated by Ukrainian cargo provider Meridian, and the Ukrainian consul in Thessaloniki, who has arrived on the crash web site, advised native officers that the crew have been all Ukrainian.
“These have been illuminating mortar mines and coaching [mines]…. This flight had all essential permissions in accordance with worldwide rules,” Stefanovic stated.
The aircraft crashed shortly earlier than 11 p.m., about 40 kilometres west of Kavala Worldwide Airport. Minutes earlier than, the pilot of the aircraft had advised air-traffic controllers that there was an issue with one in all his engines and that he needed to make an emergency touchdown. He was directed to Kavala airport however by no means made it there.
The aircraft is a Soviet-era four-engine turboprop cargo provider.
Residents advised to not go away properties
Drone footage reveals that small fragments are all that’s left from the aircraft. Firefighters who rushed to the scene within the night time have been prevented from reaching the crash web site by smoke and an intense scent that they feared is perhaps poisonous.
Close by residents have been advised to maintain their home windows shut all night time, to not go away their properties and to put on masks. Authorities stated they didn’t know if there have been harmful chemical substances on the aircraft, together with these contained in batteries.
A particular military unit that appears for nuclear, organic and chemical substances will comb the location.
The hearth service has cordoned off the world at a radius of about 400 metres.
The mayor of the municipality of Paggaio, to which the 2 villages near the crash belong, has banned car motion on close by roads.
