Cargo plane crashes in the Philippines; 3 dead

An ATMA Atyra Airport and Transport Antonov AN-12BP on behalf of Pacific East Air Cargo on behalf of UPS, registration UP-AN216 performing freight flight Q8-7815 from Mactan to Angeles (Philippines) with 6 crew, was on approach to Angeles' Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (formerly known as Clark Air Base), when the airplane impacted ground about 11nm southeast of the airport. The airplane broke apart, the front portion burst into flames. 3 crew (2 Russian, 1 Bulgarian) are reported missing and presumed dead, 3 crew (1 Russian, 2 Uzbekistans) received injuries and were taken to hospital.

Ground witnesses observed the airplane flying very low about 11nm abeam of the runways 02L/20R and 02R/20L over the village of Mexico (Pampanga province) before the airplane impacted a field near the village.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported, that the crew reported a fire on board a few minutes prior to impact with the crew attempting to get the airplane onto the ground immediately. All 3 flight crew (1 Russian, 2 Uzbekistan citizens) survived, the three other crew/passengers (2 Russian, 1 Bulgarian) are missing.

This Mexico as well as this Angeles are located in the Philippines (not in North America - to avoid any confusion).

The airplane UP-AN216, MSN 402001, joined the fleet of ATMA in September 2009 arriving from Lao Air.