Five Die In Ukrainian Cargo Plane Blaze In Egypt

The Russian-made Antonov 12 had stopped in Luxor to refuel on its way to Ukraine, said the officials.

A Ukrainian cargo plane caught fire while about to take off from the airport in the southern Egyptian town of Luxor on Friday, killing all five crew, officials said.

The Russian-made Antonov 12 had stopped in Luxor to refuel on its way from Entebbe in Uganda to Ukraine, the Egyptian state news agency MENA said.

Firefighters were unable to save the crew from the blaze, the officials said.

The accident, at 4.18 a.m. local time (0218 GMT), did not affect regular flights at Luxor, a major tourist destination 500 km (310 miles) south of Cairo, MENA added.