Cargo Jet Crash Near Vilnius Airport Claims One Life and Leaves Three Injured

In an unfortunate event early Monday, a cargo plane crash near Vilnius airport resulted in one death and three injuries, prompting investigations into the cause.

At approximately 04:30 local time, a Boeing 737 operated for DHL by the Spanish cargo airline Swiftair crashed near a residential area while making its final approach to Vilnius Airport. Official reports indicate at least one crew member died, while three others sustained injuries in the incident. Local police assured that all 12 residents of the nearby home were successfully evacuated prior to any casualties.

Authorities are yet to determine the cause of the crash, though the Lithuanian Defence Minister indicated there are no immediate signs of sabotage or terrorism. According to local police chief Renatas Pozela, debris from the plane impacted a residence but resulted in only minor damage. The plane reportedly skidded for several hundred meters before its wreckage entangled with the house.

The aircraft took off from Leipzig Airport, Germany, shortly after 03:00 local time and crashed about an hour and a half later, as per data from Flightradar24. DHL later stated that the plane had been making an "emergency landing." Visuals from the crash site depicted significant wreckage scattered around the tree line, indicating a severe incident.

Officials are looking into whether the crash was due to a technical malfunction or human error. Marius Baranauskas of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority mentioned that the pilots had not reported any issues to air traffic control until the very moment of the crash. At present, authorities lack evidence suggesting that an explosion occurred prior to the accident.

Reported weather conditions in the area were chilly, reaching 0°C (32°F), clear clouds prior to dawn, and winds recorded at around 30 km/h (19 mph). The plane involved in the accident was confirmed to be a 31-year-old Boeing 737-400. Both DHL and local authorities are separately investigating this alarming incident.