An Antonov An-12 cargo plane operated by Ukrainian-owned Meridian Air Cargo crashed with eight people aboard near the northern Greek city of Kavala late on Saturday, Greek national broadcaster ERT said.

Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said the plane was carrying 11.5 tonnes of products, including illuminating mortar shells and training shells made by its defense industry, and the buyer was the Bangladeshi defense ministry. He confirmed that the crew members were killed.

He added that the plane's cargo was owned by Serbian company Valir, a trade company registered to perform foreign trade activities of armament military equipment and other defense products.

The pilot had requested an emergency landing due to an engine problem before the aircraft's signal was lost.

Eyewitnesses saw the plane crash in a cornfield and heard explosions. Special units of disaster personnel are said to be approaching the crash site with caution.

Power cuts have been reported in communities near the crash site, as the plane had cut electric power cables before the crash, ERT said.

(With input from agencies)