A cargo plane crashed in northern Greece on Saturday evening, the Athens News news agency reported.

Witnesses saw the plane on fire and heard explosions, the agency said.

About 15 firefighters with seven fire-fighting devices were heading towards the device, authorities said.

According to press reports, the plane was flying between Serbia and Jordan, and had just requested an emergency landing permit at the Greek airport of Kavala, but failed to complete the maneuver in time.

State television ERT said it was a Ukrainian Antonov, and that it was in flames before crashing according to residents of the area who witnessed the scene.