Tragedy Strikes: DHL Cargo Plane Crashes in Vilnius, Lithuania
A devastating incident occurred on Monday, November 25, 2024, when a DHL cargo plane operated by Swiftair crashed near a residential area in Vilnius, Lithuania. The accident claimed at least one life and left two others injured.
The aircraft was en route from Leipzig, Germany, to Vilnius Airport when it suffered a catastrophic failure and went down in the Liepkalnis municipality at approximately 5:30 am local time. The impact caused significant damage and a fire, prompting the evacuation of a dozen residents in the surrounding area.
According to reports, four people were on board the plane, comprising two pilots and two DHL employees. Unfortunately, one of the pilots lost their life in the crash, while the other pilot and the two crew members were rescued with injuries.
“It’s a tragic incident, but we’re grateful that the plane didn’t hit the house directly, instead landing in the yard,” said Renatas Pozela, spokesperson for the Fire Protection and Rescue Department.
Emergency services, including fire trucks and command teams from Vilnius Airport, responded quickly to the scene. Miraculously, airport operations remained unaffected by the incident.
Airport authorities confirmed in a statement that city services, a fire truck, and a command team from Vilnius Airport were on site. “Airport operations are not disrupted at this time,” they assured.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown and is being investigated by aviation authorities.
