A DHL cargo plane crashed into a two-story residential building near Vilnius Airport, according to Delfi. The incident occurred at 5:31 a.m. local time (6:31 a.m. Moscow time) near Žirniai Street.
Four people were onboard: two pilots and two passengers.
Reports indicate that one person died, while two others were hospitalized. Rescuers pulled the pilot from the wreckage, and he regained consciousness. There have been no confirmed casualties among residents on the ground.
"Emergency services, including firefighters and a Vilnius Airport task force, are currently on-site. The airport’s operations remain unaffected," airport authorities reported.
The cargo plane, en route from Leipzig to Vilnius, crashed during its descent approximately 20 minutes before its scheduled landing at 6:28 a.m.
According to DHL Lietuva CEO Mindaugas Pivoriūnas, the aircraft was operated by a contractor. Flight tracking data identifies the plane as a Boeing 737-499.
The contents of the cargo remain undisclosed.
Concerns of Sabotage
The crash comes amid rising concerns over potential acts of sabotage in Europe. The Wall Street Journal previously reported incidents at DHL warehouses in the UK and Germany involving fires caused by flammable magnesium-based substances. Intelligence sources linked these events to operations by Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU).
While no direct link to the crash has been established, European officials and intelligence agencies have expressed concerns about increased Russian hybrid operations, including potential acts of sabotage targeting infrastructure and transport.
Bruno Kahl, head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, has warned that Russia's activities could escalate tensions further. He suggested that NATO's collective defense clause might need to be invoked if such operations threaten member states' security.
Investigations into the crash and its cause are ongoing.
