1 Dead in Plane Crash in Lithuania

A cargo plane operated by DHL, en route from Germany to Lithuania, crashed during an emergency landing near Vilnius Airport early Monday.

Authorities are not ruling out the possibility of a terror-related incident as investigations commence.

The crash site, located just a few kilometers from Vilnius Airport, claimed the life of one crew member, with three others injured and hospitalized.

The deceased was identified as one of two Spanish crew members, while the injured include a German and a Lithuanian.

Lithuanian authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the crash, examining potential causes ranging from technical malfunctions to human error and even sabotage.

Officials have retrieved the plane’s black boxes for analysis, a process expected to take up to a week.

Darius Jauniškis, head of Lithuanian intelligence, stressed the importance of withholding premature conclusions. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas stated that no concrete evidence points to sabotage or terrorism at this stage.

Authorities have also interviewed the surviving crew members, and fire officials confirmed that the crash ignited a nearby house, although all residents were safely evacuated.

This incident comes amid heightened security concerns following recent cases of incendiary parcels linked to DHL in Europe. 

In November, authorities in Lithuania and Poland intercepted such parcels, leading to speculation that Russia might be orchestrating these events. Lithuanian officials have previously accused Russia of increasing its aggressive tactics, though no direct link to the crash has been established.

Residents described the crash as a fiery explosion. Stanislovas Jakimavičius, who lives near the site, recalled being awakened by a blast that lit up the sky with flames and thick smoke. Debris, including dozens of scattered parcels, was seen at the crash site.

DHL released a statement confirming that the aircraft was carrying mixed cargo from various clients. The company has faced previous incidents involving incendiary devices found in its warehouses in Germany and the UK earlier this year.