A DHL cargo plane crashed near Vilnius airport in Lithuania on Monday, killing one crew member and raising questions about potential outside involvement. The plane, arriving from Leipzig, Germany, skidded several hundred meters and struck multiple buildings before coming to a stop. Debris and burning packages were scattered across a residential area, prompting emergency services to cordon off the site.
One crew member, identified as Spanish, died in the crash, while three others—hailing from Spain, Germany, and Lithuania—survived, though one sustained critical injuries.
Lithuania’s Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas stated that no immediate evidence of sabotage or terrorism had been found, though the investigation could take about a week. The country’s State Security Department noted that, while they could not rule out terrorism or external involvement, no conclusions could yet be drawn. Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte similarly cautioned against premature assumptions. However, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock raised concerns about the possibility of a “hybrid” attack, a term used to describe unconventional actions such as sabotage or cyberattacks, often linked to Russia in the context of the ongoing Ukraine war.
Police reported that the plane struck a residential building, smaller structures, and a car, setting them on fire. The 12 residents of the affected house were safely evacuated. Witnesses described hearing explosions and seeing fire erupting like fireworks. German logistics company DHL, which owns the plane, stated that its partner SwiftAir had been operating the aircraft, which was attempting an emergency landing when the crash occurred.
Lithuania has been on high alert in recent weeks due to a series of incidents involving incendiary devices planted on cargo planes. Arrests were made earlier this month in connection to devices smuggled from Lithuania to the UK, allegedly planted in massagers containing flammable substances. These incidents, along with recent lorry fires in Poland and a depot fire in the UK, have been linked to suspected Russian operations. Lithuanian President’s security adviser Kestutis Budrys attributed the actions to Russian military intelligence, warning against inaction as it could lead to further escalation.
Both Lithuania and Poland, NATO members and strong allies of Ukraine, have frequently accused Russia of carrying out sabotage on European soil since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. German and Lithuanian investigators are now working together to uncover the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, Lithuanian and German officials continue to emphasize caution as they await further findings.
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