A DHL cargo plane crash near Vilnius, Lithuania, early Monday morning has resulted in the death of one crew member and injuries to three others. The Boeing 737 aircraft, operated by Swiftair on behalf of DHL, was en route from Leipzig, Germany, when it crashed while attempting to land at Vilnius Airport around 5:30 a.m. local time.
Surveillance footage captured the harrowing moment as the plane descended and disappeared behind a building before a massive fireball erupted into the sky. The crash occurred just over a mile short of the runway, impacting a residential area and causing a fire that damaged nearby homes. Fortunately, no residents were injured, as emergency services quickly evacuated 12 people from the affected house.
The deceased crew member has been identified as a Spanish national, while the injured include citizens from Spain, Germany, and Lithuania. They were promptly transported to Vilnius University Hospital for treatment. The Lithuanian airport authority confirmed that the aircraft was carrying four people at the time of the crash.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Preliminary data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the aircraft made a turn north of the airport to align for landing before it crashed. Weather conditions at the time were near freezing with cloudy skies and winds reaching 30 kph (18 mph), which could have contributed to the incident.
This tragic event has prompted speculation about potential sabotage, given recent concerns over incendiary devices found in Western-bound cargo planes. Lithuanian officials have been investigating such incidents but have not yet linked them to this crash. State Security Department chief Darius Jauniskis emphasized that it is too early to make any attributions or conclusions regarding possible terrorism.
The crash has raised alarms about aviation safety and security, especially considering previous warnings about Russian-inspired sabotage on EU soil. Both Poland and Lithuania have been vigilant about potential threats due to their proximity to Russia and their support for Ukraine amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
DHL Group, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident. The company confirmed that the plane made an “emergency landing” approximately half a mile from Vilnius Airport. Swiftair, based in Madrid, also remains unavailable for immediate comment.
As investigations continue, authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the crash and ensure that similar incidents are prevented in the future. The focus remains on understanding how such a tragedy occurred and addressing any vulnerabilities within air cargo operations.
