Kavala: Crash of an Antonov aircraft carrying, according to estimates, ammunition
The plane crash occurred on Saturday night, near Paleochori Kavala, causing great disturbance in the villages of the prefecture, where the residents witnessed the incident in horror.
After a meeting, early Sunday morning, the mayor of Pangaiou, Philippos Anastasiadis, revealed that the basic assessment is that the aircraft was carrying ammunition, which is why explosions were heard after the crash.
Moreover, the parliamentarian of the ND, Makarios Lazaridis, who participated in the meeting, confirmed the assessment that the Antonov was carrying ammunition and noted that the route that the plane was taking must be distinguished precisely.
With the first light of the day, special pyrotechnicians of the army arrived in order to make special checks.
A little earlier, even the firemen were removed from the scene.
Strong forces of the Fire Department and EKAB ambulances rushed to the scene, but due to the danger they were removed from the scene.
Forces of the 2nd and 4th EMAK were directed to the scene, unfortunately via Twitter the fire service.
The aircraft went down between the villages of Antifilippi and Paleochori, in Eleftheroupoli Kavala, at approximately 23:00.
Sources close to the Civil Aviation Service (CAA) said that the pilot of the Antonov An-12 informed that the aircraft had suffered an engine failure and on emergency clearance, but did not manage to reach an airport, as an engine fire broke out in flight and the plane went down.
According to the information so far, the An-12 was Ukrainian and was carrying cargo from Serbia to Jordan.
The Fire Department’s headquarters requested the immediate withdrawal of all the forces of the Fire Service, as well as all those who are near the rural area of Paleochori, as stated by the head of Civil Protection of the PE Kavala, Stavros Kivrakis.
As Mr. Kivrakis said, an order has been given for the immediate removal of all forces guarding the area as the toxicity of the cargo carried by the aircraft is not known, while at the scene of the accident a team of pyrotechnicians has been deployed to check the dangerousness of the cargo and decide the next steps.
The smell of burning fuel is very strong in the area, while the cloud of smoke is also thick, however the fires are very small and there is no risk of re-ignition as the fire brigade has created a protective grid to prevent any such danger.
Due to the burden of the atmosphere, two firefighters who were near the scene of the accident experienced breathing problems and were transferred to the General Hospital of Kavala.
Besides, 112 is not going to send a message to the residents of Antifilippi and Paleochorlio, near the crash site, in order to stay in their homes with closed windows and without their air conditioners.
ERT, quoting sources from the fire department, reported that there are eight people on board the aircraft and that the cargo of the carrier is also classified as dangerous.
A civil protection representative who was at the scene revealed that there is an estimate that the aircraft may have even carried ammunition. For this reason, a special crew should rush to the scene to approach the crash site. In fact, orders were given to the journalists to wear masks and move away from the specific point.
Intense disturbance prevailed for some time after the fall among the inhabitants of the plain of Antiphilippi. Eyewitnesses reported to APE-MPE that they initially saw a burning object, which then caused a large fire and multiple explosions.
There is a large mobilization of the Fire Brigade and the Police in the area, while ambulances have also arrived.
Antifili, Hortokopi and Palaiohori were plunged into darkness, due to an extensive power outage, with the headlights from patrol cars and Fire Department vehicles being the only source of illumination.
ertnews.gr cites testimonies according to which the ferocious transporter fell into a field of corn amidst explosions and miraculously no one was in danger.
The pilot reported engine failure and immediately received an emergency clearance from Kavala airport but lost track ten nautical miles west of Kavala.
The transport aircraft had taken off from Serbia bound for Jordan and was reportedly operating a commercial transport flight with no passengers other than the crew.
Eyewitnesses recorded videos showing the aircraft on fire and explosions following.
Information indicates that both the Kavala hospital and the Papageorgiou hospital in Thessaloniki have been put on standby.