Meridian Flight 3032
| Industry | Cargo airline |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 2022 |
| Headquarters | Ukraine |
| Products | Air cargo transport |
Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence
On 16 July 2022, Meridian Flight 3032, operated by an Antonov An-12BK cargo aircraft en route from Serbia to Bangladesh with scheduled stops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and India, crashed near the vicinity of Antiphilippi, close to Kavala, Greece. The crash occurred during an attempted emergency landing at Kavala International Airport.
The plane was transporting approximately 11.5 tonnes (11.3 long tons; 12.7 short tons) of ammunition at the time of the accident. Explosions from the cargo persisted into the following day, delaying access and examination of the wreckage site.
Aircraft
The involved aircraft was originally manufactured in 1971. It was procured by Ukrainian freight operator Aviation Company Meridian in January 2022 and subsequently re-registered under the tail number UR-CIC.
Crew and cargo
All eight crew members, who were Ukrainian nationals, lost their lives in the accident.
Serbian Defence Minister Nebojša Stefanović stated that the plane was transporting approximately 11 tonnes of Serbian-produced weapons and ammunition, which included mortar shells.
Incident
The journey began in Niš, Serbia, with the intended final destination being Dhaka, Bangladesh. The flight was scheduled to make stops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and India.
The aircraft took off from Niš at 18:36 UTC carrying around 11 tonnes of munitions, with planned layovers in Amman, Riyadh, and Ahmedabad.
Witnesses and video footage revealed that the airplane was engulfed in flames prior to crashing.
Explosions continued intermittently for up to two hours after the impact. Residents living within a 2 km radius were instructed to keep windows shut and remain indoors. Due to concerns over the condition and type of leftover cargo and debris, emergency personnel, bomb disposal experts, and members of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission were unable to approach the crash site. Instead, drones were deployed to survey the wreckage.
Weapons destination
Despite rumors suggesting the arms shipment was intended for Ukraine, Serbia's Defence Minister Nebojša Stefanović clarified that the cargo was not connected to the Russo-Ukrainian War. The Bangladesh Armed Forces confirmed they were the designated recipients of the consignment,[1] having purchased the weapons from BA-METALEXPORT, a Bosnian firm under Polish ownership.[2]
Considering Serbia's geopolitical stance, which fluctuates between Western and Russian influences, alongside its domestic arms industry and issues of political corruption, political analyst Vuk Vuksanovic raised doubts about whether the aircraft was truly carrying Serbian-origin weapons destined for Ukraine.[3]
Investigation
The Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board (AAIASB) initiated an inquiry into the crash, collaborating with the National Bureau of Air Accidents Investigation of Ukraine (NNBAAI). Additionally, Germany's Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU) successfully retrieved data from the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder, which is crucial to the ongoing examination.[4]
It was revealed that the aircraft had been involved in a prior incident on June 19, 2022, approximately one month before the fatal accident. As of December 2023, the probe remains active with no definitive conclusions published.[5]
References
- ↑ "All eight crew members killed in cargo plane crash in northern Greece". France 24. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ↑ "Crashed Plane was Flying Arms for Polish-Owned Bosnian Company". Balkan Insight. 26 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ↑ "Mystery plane crash: Were Serbian weapons headed for Ukraine?". DW.COM. 23 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
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External links
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