An АN-12 plane crashed in the north of Greece near the city of Kavala overnight. It was operating a commercial flight from Serbia to Jordan and carried “dangerous cargo” onboard.

This was reported by the Greek TV channel ERT.

The accident occurred at about 11 pm local time. The Civil Aviation Administration of Greece received a report of a problem with one of the aircraft’s engines. The pilot requested permission for an urgent landing.

The crew was offered to board at Thessaloniki or Kavala Airport. The aircraft`s crew chose the latter option, after which it started to descend. Subsequently, communication with it disappeared.

?#BREAKING : Il filmato del momento in cui l'aereo #Antonov ucraino si è schiantato a Paleochori Kavalas, nel nord della #Grecia. Il pilota aveva richiesto un atterraggio di emergenza dopo che 3 motori si sono guastati. pic.twitter.com/ZnGAJsQxYO

— WORLDWIDENEWS24 (@Ucrainarussia) July 16, 2022

Аn-12 crashed 40 km west of Kavala Airport. Eyewitnesses filmed the moment of the disaster. They also reported explosions to be heard after the plane crashed.

Media report that 8 to 12 people were on board the Аn-12. The plane was also carrying 12 tons of “dangerous cargo.” It can mean either ammunition, batteries, or other flammable equipment.

A large fire broke out at the scene of the accident, with reports of a strong smell of fuel and thick smoke. At the same time, the fires are localized in the small area, and there is no talk of re-ignition. Due to smoke, several firefighters turned to doctors with signs of poisoning.

Today, emergency services are studying the crash site using a drone to transmit information to pyrotechnics and rescuers. Law enforcement officers are waiting to receive the flight recorder’s data to establish the accident’s circumstances.

In addition, areas 500 meters away from the plane crash site were fenced, and people living nearby are advised not to open windows, not to leave the house, and to wear masks. There is reason to believe that the plane might have carried dangerous goods.

They also emphasize that there is currently no information from Serbia regarding the contents of the cargo.

The Аn-12 itself was owned by Meridian company, which, according to its website, operates charter cargo flights around the world and performs contracts with state and non-governmental organizations to transport humanitarian goods. It also works closely with the UN and NATO on the delivery of urgent cargo, in particular of military and dual-use.