Cargo Flight Crash in Lithuania Results in One Fatality
At least one person was killed when a cargo plane crashed on its approach to an airport in Vilnius, sliding into a nearby house. Three others were wounded in the incident as the plane slid for more than 100 meters when it attempted to land at an airport in Vilnius.
According to Lithuanian officials, the deceased was of Spanish nationality, while the rest of the crew included one fellow Spaniard, a German, and a Lithuanian. The cause of the accident is still unknown, although the plane skidded for a few hundred meters after hitting the ground.
The flight was operated by airline Swiftair on behalf of DHL out of Leipzig, Germany, and the crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time. The aircraft involved in the incident was confirmed to be a Boeing 737-400.
Marius Baranauskas, the head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, stated that the pilots did not report any extraordinary events to the tower until the very last moment. The two pilots were freed from the cockpit by firefighters, with one being more seriously injured than the other.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, with possibilities including technical failure, human error, foul play, or terrorism. Lithuanian police and prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation, while a civil aviation incident probe is also underway.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė emphasized the importance of thorough investigations to uncover the truth behind the incident. Various agencies, including Boeing and DHL, are cooperating to gather more information and provide support.
The incident has raised concerns about freight transportation in Europe, with previous incidents of fires caused by incendiary devices hidden inside parcels. Authorities are investigating potential connections with similar incidents across the continent.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
