A DHL cargo plane crashed and skidded into a house near Lithuania’s capital Monday morning, killing one Spanish crew member and injuring three others, as investigators begin examining multiple potential causes including technical failure and human error.
The 31-year-old Boeing 737 freighter, operated by Madrid-based contractor Swiftair, crashed at 5:30 a.m. while approaching Vilnius airport from Leipzig, Germany. Surveillance video showed the aircraft descending normally before exploding in a fireball, though the moment of impact wasn’t visible.
“Thankfully, despite the crash occurring in a residential area, no lives have been lost among the local population,” Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said after meeting with rescue officials. She urged against speculation about the cause, emphasizing that investigators need time to conduct their work properly.
The crash left three crew members injured – Spanish, German, and Lithuanian citizens – according to police spokesman Ramūnas Matonis. Fire Chief Renatas Požėla reported that while the house sustained slight damage and surrounding infrastructure caught fire, residents were safely evacuated.
Flight tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the aircraft made a turn north of the airport to line up for landing before crashing approximately 1.5 kilometers short of the runway. Weather conditions at the time included freezing temperatures, pre-dawn clouds, and winds around 30 kilometers per hour.
“I saw a fireball,” said a witness who identified herself only as Svaja. “My first thought is that a world war has begun and it’s time to grab the documents and run somewhere to a shelter, to a basement.”
Police Commissioner Arūnas Paulauskas said investigators are considering multiple scenarios, including technical failure and human error, and haven’t ruled out terrorism. Neither DHL nor Swiftair offered immediate comment on the incident.
The aircraft’s age, while considered older, is not unusual for cargo operations. Debris from the yellow-liveried plane was scattered across the crash site, which authorities have sealed off for investigation.
AP
