DHL Cargo Plane Crashes into Lithuanian Home, One Fatality Confirmed

VILNIUS CITY MUNICIPALITY, Lithuania — A DHL cargo plane tragically crashed while attempting to land at an airport in Lithuania’s capital on Monday morning. The incident caused the aircraft to skid into a house, resulting in the death of one Spanish crew member, according to officials. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the moments leading up to the disaster, showing the plane descending normally before erupting into flames after colliding with the ground. The actual impact was not visible in the footage.

The head of the country’s firefighting service reported that the plane traveled several hundred meters after the impact, and images from the scene depicted smoke billowing from a damaged house surrounded by sparse trees. Fortunately, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė confirmed that no residents in the area were harmed, despite the crash occurring in a populated neighborhood.

Rescue teams quickly established a perimeter around the crash site, where debris from the aircraft, painted in DHL’s distinctive yellow, was scattered across the landscape. The cargo aircraft was carrying four individuals at the time of the accident, with one confirmed fatality. The other three crew members—of Spanish, German, and Lithuanian nationality—sustained varying degrees of injury.

The aircraft, operated by Madrid-based Swiftair, was reportedly arriving from Leipzig, Germany, a significant freight hub. Investigators are assessing potential causes of the crash, including mechanical failure, human error, and even the possibility of a deliberate act.

Emergency response officials successfully evacuated the surrounding residential area, though the fire caused significant damage to at least one dwelling. Fire and Rescue Department Chief Renatas Požėla reported that residents expressed a sense of panic as a bright flash illuminated their homes, followed by an explosion and waves of smoke.

Among the eyewitnesses was a woman named Svaja, who recalled rushing to her window when her room was filled with light. She described her immediate fear, believing she was witnessing a catastrophic event. “I saw a fireball,” she added, expressing her instinctual drive to find safety in the chaos.

As investigations continue, Prime Minister Šimonytė urged the public to refrain from speculation, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough and professional inquiry. “The responsible agencies are working diligently,” she stated. “Speculation and guesswork will not help establish the truth.”

Flight-tracking data indicated that the Boeing 737 made an unexpected turn before crashing approximately 1.5 kilometers from the runway. At the time of the incident, weather conditions included freezing temperatures, cloudy skies, and winds gusting at 30 kph (18 mph). The aircraft, over three decades old, is categorized as an aging airframe—a common occurrence in cargo flights but worth noting in safety evaluations.