Lithuania Cargo Plane Crash Leaves One Dead, Three Injured

A tragic cargo plane crash near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania has claimed one life and left three others injured. The Boeing 737-400, operated for DHL by Spanish airline Swiftair, went down in the early hours of Monday as it approached its final landing.

The aircraft, flying from Leipzig, Germany, crashed approximately 1.3 km (0.8 miles) north of the runway around 04:30 local time (02:30 GMT). The plane reportedly struck infrastructure near a residential property, causing a fire. Firefighters swiftly evacuated 12 residents from the house, which sustained minor damage.

The deceased was identified as one of the four crew members onboard. Lithuanian authorities confirmed that all other passengers and residents in the vicinity were accounted for.

Emergency responders worked to contain the fire, with firefighters seen battling smoke at the crash site. Despite the proximity of the crash to the airport, Vilnius Airport operations have continued without disruption.

DHL confirmed ownership of the 31-year-old aircraft and stated that the crash occurred during an “emergency landing.” Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash, with authorities noting no signs of an explosion prior to impact.

Before the crash, weather conditions in the area were reported as cold, with temperatures at 0°C (32°F), light winds of 30 km/h (19 mph), and cloudy skies. These factors, alongside the plane’s age and other operational details, will form part of the ongoing investigation.

Renatas Pozela, head of Lithuania’s firefighting and emergency services unit, confirmed that the crash caused limited structural damage but highlighted the swift evacuation of residents as a key success in preventing further casualties.