Cargo plane was on fire before hitting ground

A cargo plane traveling from Nis Airport (INI/LYNI), Serbia to Amman-Queen Alia International Airport (AMM/OJAI), Jordan has crashed near the city of Kavala in northern Greece.

The Antonov-12, operated by Meridian Airlines, a Ukraine-based company, was flying from Serbia to Jordan when it went down on Saturday. It was not immediately known how many people were on board and whether there were any survivors.

IMAGE TAKEN FROM FLIGHTRADAR24.COM 

Greece's ERT state broadcaster reported that the aircraft had been carrying a 12-tonne cargo, describing it as potentially dangerous.

The aircraft departed Nis at 18:36 UTC, bound for Amman, Jordania, carrying 12 tons of cargo. It was crossing the Aegean Sea when it turned back toward Greece at 19:29 UTC. After reaching land, it began a right-hand descending turn until it crashed about 35 km west of Kavala Airport (IATA: KVA, ICAO: LGKV).

The pilot reportedly requested an emergency landing at Kavala airport due to an engine problem but was unable to reach the runway. Some reports say eight people may have been on board the aircraft.

Footage has emerged purportedly showing the plane already on fire as it descended followed by a large explosion after it hits the ground.

"At 22:45 (19:45 GMT) I was surprised by the sound of the engine of the aircraft," local resident Giorgos Archontopoulos told the ERT. "I went outside and saw the engine on fire."

Eyewitnesses also heard blasts according to several media reports.

Local officials said seven fire engines had been deployed but they could not approach the crash site because of continuing explosions.

"We are treating the cargo as dangerous material," Reuters quoted a fire brigade official as saying.

Greece's special disaster response unit was also investigating the scene, Reuters reported.
So far there has been no public comment from Ukraine, Serbia or Jordan.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Meridian Airlines

Code: (MEM)

Aircraft: Antonov An-12BK

Registration: UR-CIC

Serial Number: 01347701

Engines:

First Flew: February 1971

Age: 51 Yrs 

Additional Aircraft Information

Registration          Airline           Delivered 

CCCP-12999          Aeroflot - Soviet Airlines         15.02.71
CCCP-12999          Balkan - Bulgarian Airlines     10.10.90
RA-12999               Ural Airlines                             06.03.93
4K-12999                Private Owner                         25.07.94
LZ-VEB                  Vega Air Company                  30.09.99
LZ-VEB                  Scorpion Air                            02.05.02
LZ-VEB                  Vega Air Company                  12.03.07
UN-11019               ATMA                                      09.09.07
UP-AN212              ATMA                                     18.07.08
EW-435TI               Aircompany Grodno               12.12.14
UR-CIC                  Aviation Company Meridian   26.01.22

UPDATE: 18/7

The aircraft was carry eight passengers and sadly all eight have been reported as deceased.

Thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends in this difficult time.