One Dead, Three Injured as DHL Cargo Plane Crashes into Homes Near Vilnius Airport

Nov 25, 2024, 06:30 AM

A DHL cargo plane flying from Leipzig, Germany, to Vilnius, Lithuania, crashed into a residential area near Vilnius Airport early this morning, killing at least one person and injuring three others. The Swiftair Boeing 737-400, operated on behalf of DHL, came down around 5:30 a.m. local time (03:30 UTC) while attempting to land, crashing short of the runway. The aircraft struck a two-story residential building on Žirnių Street, igniting a significant fire that spread rapidly through the village. Emergency services, including firefighters and a command team from Vilnius Airport, are on the scene. Authorities report that four people were on board the plane: two pilots and two DHL employees. One of the pilots was found dead, while the other, along with two DHL staff, was rescued and transferred to medical services. Twelve residents were safely evacuated from the affected building, with no injuries reported among them. Airport operations are not disrupted at this time. The Lithuanian National Crisis Management Center stated there is no evidence of an explosion prior to the crash. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident.