Cargo Plane Packed with 11 Tons of Military Explosives Down Over Europe, Strange Smell Kept Firefighters Away

When more than 11 tons of military explosives exploded after a Saturday place crash, fear kept first responders away.

A Soviet-era four-engine turboprop cargo plane, piloted by a Ukrainian crew, was taking 11.5 tons of Serbian-made ordinance to Bangladesh when it came down in northern Greece, according to ABC. Officials said illuminating mortar shells were among the cargo.

Firefighters were initially delayed in their response, as they were confronted by intense smoke and an odor they feared might be toxic.

“I wonder how it didn’t fall on our houses,” witness Aimilia Tsaptanova said, according to Reuters.

“It was full of smoke, it had a noise I can’t describe and went over the mountain. It passed the mountain and turned and crashed into the fields,” she said.

?Fears over dangerous chemicals, explosive cargo after deadly plane crash in northern Greecehttps://t.co/tSlL9E7zna

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“There were flames, we were scared. A lot of cars came, but they couldn’t approach because there were continuous explosions,” she said, according to the BBC.

Stamatis Kourtesis of Antifilippi said he saw the airplane on fire as it crashed, according to The New York Times.