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| The plane crashed into a mountainside in Greece. |
A PLANE transporting "hazardous items" exploded into flames before crashing in a massive fireball explosion on a Greek mountaintop.
The aircraft, operated by a Ukrainian airline, was carrying eight crew members when it crashed near the city of Kavala.
The pilot requested an emergency landing owning to a failure with one of the four engines but the signal was lost.
Video footage posted below showed the airplane in flames descending quickly before collapsing in what appeared to be an explosion.
People near the crash scene reported seeing a fireball and hearing a series of explosions after the impact.
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| A huge fireball erupted following the crash Credit: A news |
According to reports, the plane was heading to Ukraine with weapons.
But others claimed the jet was used by the Serbian Army to transport "dangerous commodities," which are thought to be chemicals, hazardous garbage, and possibly explosives.
According to state television Ert, the jet was an Antonov An-12 operated by a Ukrainian firm and going from Serbia to Jordan.
The fire department said it had sent 15 firefighters and seven engines to extinguish the blaze that erupted following the incident, with more on the way.
A massive search and rescue operation has been initiated, and the area has been blocked off due to the potential presence of "hazardous chemicals" on board.
As it fell to the earth, the plane severed electrical wires, resulting in a general power outage in the surrounding area.