A DHL cargo plane tragically crashed near Vilnius, Lithuania, on the morning of Monday, November 20, 2024, during its approach to land at the city’s international airport. The crash resulted in the death of one crew member and left three others injured, with at least one in critical condition. The wreckage of the Boeing 737-400, operated by Swiftair on behalf of DHL, was engulfed in flames and smoke as emergency services worked tirelessly to control the fire.
The crash occurred at approximately 03:30 GMT, just one kilometer from Vilnius Airport (VNO). The aircraft had departed from Leipzig, Germany, at 02:08 GMT. While Lithuanian officials have stated there is no immediate indication of sabotage, the crash is being investigated in the broader context of growing concerns over the vulnerability of European infrastructure.
German authorities, led by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, have expressed concerns that the crash could be connected to a series of hybrid incidents that have plagued the region in recent months. Baerbock remarked, “We must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or, after last week, another hybrid incident,” referencing the unexplained severing of two fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea just days earlier. Baerbock emphasized that the times are “volatile” and described the situation as “serious.”
Authorities are collaborating closely on the investigation. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are assisting Lithuanian officials with their probe. Lithuania’s Ministry of Justice Transport and Accident Investigation is leading the local investigation.
Lithuanian counter-intelligence chief, Darius Jauniskis, did not rule out the possibility of terrorism but cautioned that it was too early to draw any conclusions. He stated, “We cannot reject the possibility of terrorism, but at the moment, we cannot make attributions or point fingers, because we do not have such information.” European intelligence agencies are also monitoring the situation, with nothing being ruled out at this stage.
In a statement, DHL clarified that the aircraft was carrying standard parcels and there was no immediate evidence suggesting any unusual items on board. The company added that the plane made a forced landing, but the cause of the crash remains unclear. DHL has launched its own internal investigation into the incident.
Eyewitnesses in Vilnius reported seeing the plane flying low just before the crash. Kotryna Ciupailaite, a local resident, described the aircraft’s right wing dipping before the crash, with sparks or flames emerging from the right side. A video shared with Reuters showed the fireball that followed the impact, with bright red and orange flames lighting up the sky.
The plane broke into pieces on impact, sliding over 100 meters (110 yards) before hitting a nearby house, prompting the evacuation of 14 residents. Security camera footage captured the moment of impact, which was followed by a thick plume of smoke. Rescue teams quickly responded, but the crash left authorities with many unanswered questions.
Lithuanian aviation authority head, Marius Baranauskas, confirmed that the pilots had not reported any abnormalities during their radio communications with the control tower before the crash. Baranauskas explained that the investigation would focus on the black boxes, which may provide critical insights into what went wrong.
The plane’s flight history revealed it was 31 years old, and while it had a well-established safety record, the investigation will delve deeper into its condition at the time of the crash. Boeing, which has expressed its willingness to assist with the inquiry, is also gathering information on the incident.
In the wake of the crash, several European nations, including the U.K., are investigating similar incidents. The British police are probing a fire in a DHL warehouse in Birmingham in July, where a package caught fire. The connection between these events is being explored, with European law enforcement agencies sharing information to determine if there is a broader pattern of attacks targeting logistics infrastructure.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are under pressure to uncover the cause of the crash, with speculations mounting about the possibility of a hybrid attack amid heightened tensions in Europe. For now, only careful, methodical investigations will uncover the truth behind the tragic crash in Vilnius.
