According to local authorities, at least one person had been reported killed following the early morning crash of a Boeing 737-400 cargo aircraft in a residential area in Vilnius, Lithuania, today.
The crash happened at approximately 5:30 AM local time when the cargo jet, operated by the Spanish charter company Swiftair on behalf of the German logistics firm DHL, was en route from Leipzig, Germany to Vilnius International Airport. The aircraft went down in the Liepkalnis municipality, just feet away from a two-story residential building.
Reports from local media indicate that the crash resulted in a massive fire at the site; however, the house itself was not directly affected, and its occupants were unharmed.
Vilnius officials took precautionary measures by evacuating a dozen individuals from the vicinity. The incident resulted in the death of at least one of the four crew members aboard, specifically the pilot, while two other crew members, including the co-pilot, were successfully rescued from the wreckage showing the signs of life.
Emergency services promptly arrived at the location, where paramedics and firefighting teams endeavored to control the blaze. According to a representative of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department, it was fortunate that the aircraft landed in the yard rather than on the house itself, thereby preventing additional deaths.
Images from local news outlets depict a significant fire raging in the urban vicinity adjacent to multiple residences, with emergency personnel present at the site. Officials have assured that operations at Vilnius Airport remained unaffected by the incident.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is currently underway, with authorities examining the specifics of the aircraft’s descent and the subsequent fire ignited upon impact.
