Thessaloniki, Greece (AP) — Antonov freighter operated by a Ukraine-based airline crashed on Saturday near the city of Kabbalah in northern Greece, officials said.
Greek civil aviation officials said the flight was from Serbia to Jordan, but could not ascertain the number of people on board or what the cargo was on the plane. It was run by the freight carrier Meridian.
The pilot could warn the authorities that there was a problem with one of the plane’s engines and was given the option of landing at either Thessaloniki Airport or Kabala Airport. He chose the closer Kabbalah, but the plane crashed about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the airport, Greek civil aviation officials said.
“We heard the explosion a few minutes ago. Mayor of Pangaio Philippos Anastasiadis told The Associated Press.” I’m about 300 meters from the crash site. “
Locals reported seeing fireballs and smoke. The explosion caused speculation among locals and some Greek media where planes were carrying explosives.
The state broadcaster ERT reported that military explosives experts were heading to a site on farmland near two villages that were part of the city of Pangaio.
The fire department has closed the area.