Photos Show Serbian Munitions In Wreckage Of Deadly Plane Crash
- By RFE/RL
Athens has lodged a protest with Belgrade after eight Ukrainian nationals died in a plane crash in Greece on July 16. The move comes after images of the wreckage taken on July 17 showed training mortar shells and other munitions amid the debris.
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This was the scene of a deadly plane crash that occurred late on the evening of July 16, near the Greek city of Kavala.
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The plane involved was this An-12, seen here in an April 2022 file photo. The aircraft was crewed by eight Ukrainian citizens who were all killed in the crash.
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This view of the crash site on July 17 shows a mortar round (lower right) as well as what appears to be fragments of wooden ammunition boxes in the wreckage.
Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said on July 17 that the plane was transporting 11.5 tons of Serbian munitions to Bangladesh and denied speculation that the cargo was destined for Ukraine.
Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said on July 17 that the plane was transporting 11.5 tons of Serbian munitions to Bangladesh and denied speculation that the cargo was destined for Ukraine.
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Another view of the crash site showing canisters for munitions, including one that is open (lower left) exposing the tail fins of a mortar projectile.
Serbian opposition official Srdan Milivojevic called for an independent investigation due to “justified doubts” surrounding the plane crash.
Serbian opposition official Srdan Milivojevic called for an independent investigation due to “justified doubts” surrounding the plane crash.
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A section of the destroyed plane on July 17.
Stefanovic said the aircraft was carrying “illuminating mortar shells and training shells.”
Stefanovic said the aircraft was carrying “illuminating mortar shells and training shells.”
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This tube for an 82-millimeter mortar seen at the site of the crash is labelled a “practice mortar shell.”
Videos from the scene show another similar tube labelled as M67, which is the code for a kind of mortar-fired flare used for “illuminating the battlefield” that is made in Serbia.
Videos from the scene show another similar tube labelled as M67, which is the code for a kind of mortar-fired flare used for “illuminating the battlefield” that is made in Serbia.
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Men in hazmat suits near the crash site on July 17. Greece’s Civil Protection Authority instructed residents of nearby villages to stay inside with their windows shut while the site was being investigated.
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An engine of the plane photographed on July 17.
Greece lodged a formal protest on July 18, alleging that Belgrade failed to give notification of the “dangerous” cargo overflying Greek territory. Serbia’s defense minister told reporters that the flight was “in accordance with international rules.”
Greece lodged a formal protest on July 18, alleging that Belgrade failed to give notification of the “dangerous” cargo overflying Greek territory. Serbia’s defense minister told reporters that the flight was “in accordance with international rules.”
