Probe continues into Antonov blaze at Leipzig
27 / 08 / 2013
INVESTIGATORS are continuing their enquiries after a fire destroyed this Ukraine-registered An-12 freighter on the ground at Leipzig-Halle airport in Germany.
The four-engined Antonov’s fuselage was destroyed in the blaze. All seven crew members escaped unhurt.
Ukrainian sources report that the fire started when the turbo-prop engines were started in preparation for a cargo flight to Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV), Russia.
German aviation safety officials and police are currently probing the cause of the incident.
Antonov first developed the four-engined turbo-prop aircraft in the 1950s and ceased production some 40 years ago.
Leipzig-Halle handled 863,665 tonnes of freight last year.
German police have reportedly visited the airport’s cargo area to establish whether there was any criminal link to the blaze.
