**Authorities investigate potential human error or technical issues as cause of the disaster.**
**Cargo Jet Tragedy Claims Life in Lithuania Crash**
**Cargo Jet Tragedy Claims Life in Lithuania Crash**
**At least one dead and three injured as DHL-operated cargo plane crashes near Vilnius Airport.**
One person has died and three others were injured following the crash of a cargo plane operated for DHL near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania early Monday morning. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 operated by the Spanish airline Swiftair, went down close to residential structures while on its final approach to the airport.
Local authorities report that the plane departed from Leipzig Airport in Germany just after 3:00 AM local time and crashed approximately 90 minutes later. Residents in the vicinity were successfully evacuated, and a police spokesperson indicated that the crash caused minor damage to a nearby house and some local infrastructure.
Renatas Pozela, a police official, confirmed that as the plane skidded before impacting the ground, it collided with a residential building. The defense minister stated there were no signs of sabotage or terrorism at this time.
Prompt investigations have been launched by both DHL and Lithuanian authorities. Initial insights suggest that the incident may stem from either technical malfunction or human error. Marius Baranauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, noted that the conversation between the pilots and air traffic control did not indicate any emergency until the last moments before the crash.
Weather conditions were fairly stable at the time, with temperatures at 0°C and moderate winds. The Boeing 737-400 involved in the incident was reported to be 31 years old.
Local authorities report that the plane departed from Leipzig Airport in Germany just after 3:00 AM local time and crashed approximately 90 minutes later. Residents in the vicinity were successfully evacuated, and a police spokesperson indicated that the crash caused minor damage to a nearby house and some local infrastructure.
Renatas Pozela, a police official, confirmed that as the plane skidded before impacting the ground, it collided with a residential building. The defense minister stated there were no signs of sabotage or terrorism at this time.
Prompt investigations have been launched by both DHL and Lithuanian authorities. Initial insights suggest that the incident may stem from either technical malfunction or human error. Marius Baranauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, noted that the conversation between the pilots and air traffic control did not indicate any emergency until the last moments before the crash.
Weather conditions were fairly stable at the time, with temperatures at 0°C and moderate winds. The Boeing 737-400 involved in the incident was reported to be 31 years old.
