A Boeing 737 cargo plane crashed during its final approach to Vilnius airport on Monday, leading to one death and three injuries. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, with no immediate evidence suggesting sabotage or terrorism.
Tragedy Strikes as Cargo Plane Crashes Near Vilnius Airport
Tragedy Strikes as Cargo Plane Crashes Near Vilnius Airport
A cargo jet operated by Swiftair for DHL crashes near Vilnius, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries, raising questions on aviation safety protocols.
A cargo jet tragedy struck Lithuania early Monday morning when a Boeing 737 operated by the Spanish airline Swiftair for DHL crashed near Vilnius airport. The incident resulted in one member of the four-person crew losing their life and three others sustaining injuries.
According to local authorities, the aircraft crashed just before landing and skidded several hundred meters, impacting a nearby residential building. Thankfully, all 12 inhabitants of the impacted home were safely evacuated. The crash's cause is still under investigation, with preliminary reports from Lithuania's defense minister indicating no signs of sabotage or terrorism.
The flight, which took off from DHL's location at Leipzig Airport in Germany, was en route to Vilnius when the tragic event occurred approximately an hour and a half into the flight. Witnesses described the wreckage of the plane scattered among trees, with images from the scene revealing significant debris. The police official, Renatas Pozela, confirmed minor damage to the nearby residence and noted that some infrastructure caught fire, although no casualties beyond the crew were reported.
The investigation into the incident has been initiated both by local authorities and DHL. Arunas Paulauskas, the head of the police, indicated that the cause might either be related to a technical malfunction or human error. To this end, all potential causes will be thoroughly examined. Marius Baranauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, revealed that communications between the pilots and air traffic control showed no indications of issues until seconds before the crash.
Reports indicate that the aircraft was a Boeing 737-400, which is 31 years old, and weather conditions at the time featured low temperatures around freezing, cloudy skies, and moderate winds. Authorities continue to address the implications of this tragic event on aviation safety and emergency procedures.
