At least ten military died on Monday evening after an Antonov AN 2 aircraft caught fire shortly after taking off from the Tuzla military base, Constanta County, Agerpres informs. Three other are in a coma, and another passenger is severely injured. The victims were rushed at the County Hospital.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the aircraft belonged to the Applied Air Forces School from Boboc, and was conducting a training mission with army paratroopers and divers. According to Antena 3, the commander of the School is feared to be among the victims.

The injured, two in a coma, were due to be transported to Bucharest by helicopter last night. The three who escaped the crash jumped from the aircraft that caught fire at the end of the runaway, a spokesperson of the paramedics said. The blaze was put out at 6.15 pm, according to the same source.

MoD opened an inquiry to establish the cause of the dramatic accident. Minister Gabriel Oprea and the chief of the General Staff Gheorghe Marin expressed their deep sorrow and sent condolences to the victims’ families.

The Tuzla accident is the deadliest plane crash in the last 20 years in Romania.