View Full Version : Antonov cargo crash, northern Greece
surfcat
16th Jul 2022, 21:11
An Antonov cargo plane flying from Serbia to Jordan is reported crashed near Kavala, northern Greece, just before 11pm local (2000UTC).
[I don't have enough posting history to put in a URL. See newsbeast dot gr]
Google translate:
An aircraft crash occurred shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday night on the road that connects Antiphilippi with Palaiohori Kavala. The plane was a four-engine cargo Antonov type and was flying from Serbia to Jordan.
the aircraft reported damage and had requested an emergency landing at Kavala airport, but as the information states and it appears from the first images, it caught fire in the air. Fire brigades and EKAV ambulances are directed to the scene of the fall. The electricity supply was interrupted in the surrounding villages.
drdino
16th Jul 2022, 21:19
Looks like it was flight MEM3032. A few CCTV screengrabs and live videos show it to be on fire before crashing.
surfcat
16th Jul 2022, 21:23
Indeed FR24 shows it going off the Greek coast alongside Halkidiki before returning to the mainland...
Less Hair
16th Jul 2022, 21:38
Link to twitter crash video.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/07/17/breaking-aircraft-carrying-weapons-for-ukraine-has-crashed-in-the-north-of-greece/
Following it on FR24 it would appear that they were initially returning to Nis. Their decision to divert to Kavala came a little later. Difficult to tell, but had they gone directly to Kavala from where they made their 180 turn they may arguably have made it.
DaveReidUK
16th Jul 2022, 22:01
An-12, if anyone was wondering ...
UR-CIC operated by Meridian Aviation. Originally delivered to Aeroflot in March 1971 it had since operated with a host of airlines. Meridian acquired it in January this year apparently.
Lonewolf_50
16th Jul 2022, 22:30
Original article that the OP is unable to link is here.
https://www.newsbeast.gr/greece/arthro/8818779/ptosi-aeroskafous-stin-kavala-metefere-12-tonous-me-epikindyno-fortio
According to the information given to the Greek authorities by the corresponding Serbian authorities, from the flight plan submitted by Antonof , there were 8 people, crew members, and 12 tons of "dangerous cargo" were included in its cargo (https://www.newsbeast.gr/greece/arthro/8818699/ptosi-aeroskafous-stin-kavala-apanotes-ekrixeis-meta-ti-syntrivi-pithanon-na-metefere-ekriktikes-yles) , without, however, specifying its type. It is estimated that these are explosive materials, while the crash was followed by repeated explosions. A special team of pyrotechnicians of the army rushes to the area to manage sensitive material.Firefighters have been able to contain the fire that broke out after the plane crashed, (https://www.newsbeast.gr/greece/arthro/8818670/ptosi-aeroskafous-stin-kavala-sto-simeio-katefthynontai-pyrosvestikes-dynameis-kai-asthenofora) but everyone has now been ordered to stay at least 100 meters away from the crash site.
https://apnews.com/article/greece-thessaloniki-plane-crashes-cdec3d751beed40bb46189e01b252571
Yiorgos
16th Jul 2022, 23:32
low quality video of the final seconds shows the plane was on fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6GSU8N0oBk
Rt Hon Jim Hacker MP
17th Jul 2022, 10:40
According to the BBC it was carrying Serbian made weapons that may include land mines. Wow. I’d rather be dismissed than take part in flying those bastard contraptions.
According to the BBC it was carrying Serbian made weapons that may include land mines. Wow. I’d rather be dismissed than take part in flying those bastard contraptions.
Bastard Contraption?, the Cub has been a reliable workhorse for decades.
Im not gonna speculate, but in the recent heat, high explosives can get a bit unstable. RIP the crew, I dont think they stood much of a chance
treadigraph
17th Jul 2022, 12:31
639, think Jim was referring to the land mines as bastard contraptions rather than the poor old AN-12 - if so, I tend to agree with him...
rogerk
17th Jul 2022, 12:58
How are 32 airfreight companies stil operaring out of Ukraine ?
Surely a target for Russian jets ??
NutLoose
17th Jul 2022, 13:05
https://apnews.com/article/greece-thessaloniki-plane-crashes-cdec3d751beed40bb46189e01b252571
Carrying 11 odd tons of mortar rounds to Bangladesh.
How are 32 airfreight companies stil operaring out of Ukraine ?
Surely a target for Russian jets ??
I think that you will find that they are registered in the Ukraine and not necessarily operating in or out of the Ukraine!
aeromech3
17th Jul 2022, 14:06
Possibility of mines as Serbia and Pakistan have not yet signed the ICBL treaty, however Jordan and Ukraine have!
And as I have just heard said on the news the final destination might have been Bangladesh which has signed up to the Treaty for what it is worth without the Super Powers!
DaveReidUK
17th Jul 2022, 15:47
Carrying 11 odd tons of mortar rounds to Bangladesh.
There's no reference to mortar rounds in that link. Other sources suggest it was carrying land mines.
An-12 UR-CIC has been regularly commented on in the "Interesting aircraft seen today" thread for the past year or so over in Spectators Balcony
Interesting aircraft - what have you seen on your computer today? - Page 74 - PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/spectators-balcony-spotters-corner/632932-interesting-aircraft-what-have-you-seen-your-computer-today-74.html)
Last in the UK a week ago, operating out of Birmingham to the continent - An12s seem to do this route most days. principally car parts, the air freight business of which has expanded considerably since the difficulties at docks. Along with the smaller Antonov 24 turboprop they route audibly over London multiple times a day at present, linking a wide range of oddball destinations. Several times a month the An12s actually cross the Atlantic. Most of them have not actually been to Ukraine this year.
This particular aircraft has long been notable, even when at 20,000 feet in the cruise, for being more audible from the ground than the others.
DuncanDoenitz
17th Jul 2022, 18:00
Funny; the 'bastard contraptions' seemed to be getting a pretty good reviews in the cheap-seats when RF tanks were filmed driving over them.
Tartiflette Fan
17th Jul 2022, 19:06
There's no reference to mortar rounds in that link. Other sources suggest it was carrying land mines.
What difference does that make to anything, Dave ?
DaveReidUK
17th Jul 2022, 19:48
What difference does that make to anything, Dave ?
It may or may not have made a difference to the outcome - I don't know. Do you?
NutLoose
17th Jul 2022, 19:56
It may or may not have made a difference to the outcome - I don't know. Do you?
It was carrying 11.5 tonnes of munitions and 8 crew, tragic :(.
https://news.sky.com/story/plane-reportedly-carrying-dangerous-cargo-and-operated-by-ukrainian-airline-crashes-in-greece-12653566
i can’t quote it as the site is playing up again on this thread on my iPad, I wish they’d stop using” soviet era aircraft “ It’s a Ukrainian built aircraft.
was it on fire before the crash?
https://youtu.be/fUW4H5YQdGQ
again nothing to do with the war.
DaveReidUK
17th Jul 2022, 20:10
I'm not a fan of Sky News, but I think in this instance we can cut them a bit of slack - the accident aircraft was built in 1971 and spent its first 20+ years flying for Aeroflot.
Tartiflette Fan
17th Jul 2022, 20:34
It may or may not have made a difference to the outcome - I don't know. Do you?
Are you being serious ? The difference between a mixed load of mortar shells and land -mines* in an airplane -crash ? What do you want - neutron-microscopic analysis of the difference in explosive effect ? Just what is the point you are trying to make ?
* Subsequently reported by numerous outlets
Sorry guys, but this is another thread drift. Other than being an Ukrainian registered aircraft:
- It was operating for a civilian operator
- It's operation was in no way connected to the war going on in the Ukraine.
- There's a thread already running on this accident in the Accidents and Close Calls forum.
The mods may disagree with me, in which case fair enough, but I see no connection between the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and this accident.
NutLoose
17th Jul 2022, 22:31
Totally agree, I said above nothing to do with the war, I wish people would stop adding stuff when they hear the words Ukraine and Soviet.
dogle
17th Jul 2022, 22:49
Here's a more recent link:
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1189282/all-crew-bodies-at-plane-crash-site-now-retrieved/
DaveReidUK
18th Jul 2022, 07:12
Are you being serious ? The difference between a mixed load of mortar shells and land -mines* in an airplane -crash ? What do you want - neutron-microscopic analysis of the difference in explosive effect ? Just what is the point you are trying to make ?
I've already made my point - that it's possible the precise nature of the munitions being transported may have affected the survivability of the crash (given the reports that the aircraft exploded on impact).
You are of course free to assert otherwise, but until we see the results of the investigation, that's all it is - an assertion.
* Subsequently reported by numerous outlets
Yes, news reports subsequent to the one that I quoted contain more information. Believe it or not, that's how news works ...
MacRS
18th Jul 2022, 08:54
Are you being serious ? The difference between a mixed load of mortar shells and land -mines* in an airplane -crash ? What do you want - neutron-microscopic analysis of the difference in explosive effect ? Just what is the point you are trying to make ?
* Subsequently reported by numerous outlets
More like are you serious?
Dave just commented that the link NutLoose posted didn't mention mortars shells but other sources said landimines. Then you're off on one challenging him about what's the difference!