ATHENS, July 17 (Reuters) – A cargo airplane with eight individuals on board crashed close to town of Kavala in northern Greece late on Saturday, the fireplace brigade and state TV stated.

State TV ERT reported that the plane was an Antonov An-12 owned by a Ukrainian firm, which was flying from Serbia to Jordan. The pilot had requested an emergency touchdown attributable to an engine downside however the plane’s sign was misplaced.

Video footage uploaded on ertnews.gr confirmed the plane in flames descending quick earlier than hitting the bottom in what seemed to be an explosion. The hearth brigade couldn’t affirm the kind of plane however stated there have been preliminary studies that eight individuals had been on board.

In an announcement it stated it had deployed 15 firefighters and 7 engines to place out the blaze that broke out after the crash. Extra rescuers had been on their approach.

It was not clear what the plane’s cargo was however the particular catastrophe response unit was additionally investigating the scene.

“We’re treating the cargo as harmful materials,” stated a fireplace brigade official.

Reporting by Renee Maltezou and Alkis Konstantinidis; Modifying by Daniel Wallis

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.