A DHL cargo plane, which took off from Leipzig, Germany, crashed early Monday morning while trying to land near the airport near Vilnius.
According to the Lithuanian agency Delfi, its debris hit the vicinity of a residential building, whose residents were unharmed. However, the building caught fire and the firefighters safely evacuated 12 people from it. One person from the plane lost his life and three others were injured, the Lithuanian rescue service reported. The authorities did not specify the cause of the accident, however, according to a spokesman for the National Crisis Management Center, there is no indication that the plane exploded.
The head of the Lithuanian police, Arunas Paulauskas, identified a technical fault or human error as the most likely cause of the accident, Lithuanian Radio and Television writes on its website. However, he added that “terrorism cannot be ruled out”. The head of the Lithuanian secret service, Darius Jauniškis, made a similar statement. “At this point, it’s too early to connect the case to anything,” he said. However, even according to him, the possibility of terrorism cannot be ruled out. He assured that Lithuania cooperates with international partners.
He told a government press conference today A spokesman for the German Interior Ministry said at a government press conference on Monday that Germany now has no information that would lead him to believe that the plane crash was related to a recent warning by German intelligence about explosives packages. According to him, Berlin is in contact with the Lithuanian authorities due to the crash of the machine that took off in Leipzig. According to the spokesman of the Ministry of Transport, German experts will also participate in the investigation of the causes of the accident.
Lithuanian radio and television quoted the outgoing Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytéová’s statement, according to which the country “in the current geopolitical context looks at every incident differently than in the past.” “But I’m asking you not to jump to conclusions,” she said. Lithuania, which borders Russia’s Kaliningrad region, is a staunch ally of Ukraine, which has been defending itself against Russian aggression for two or three quarters of the year.
The temperature at Vilnius airport was around zero on Monday morning, it was cloudy before sunrise. Lithuanian Airports Administration she informed that the plane crashed around 05:30 local time (04:30 CET) and that emergency services and a command team went to the scene. Airport operations were not significantly disrupted.
Many parts of the machine, as well as packages and pieces of cardboard, were scattered around the accident site, a Lithuanian radio reporter reported. According to him, the area is not densely built up. The plane crashed about 1.5 kilometers from the runway, then slid several hundred meters on the ground, and its debris hit the yard of a multi-story residential building with four apartments. According to the media, the plane is completely destroyed. People in Vilnius received alerts on their mobile phones to avoid the area around the airport, which is located south of the city, due to road closures.
According to police chief Paulauskas, the collection of evidence will take up to a week, and the public “will not get a quick answer”. Police hope to be able to interview the plane’s pilot soon. Her representative said that the dead person is a citizen of Spain. Another Spaniard, one Lithuanian and one German were injured.
The Boeing 737 cargo plane was operated by Swift, based in Madrid, for Germany’s DHL. According to LRT, the management of DHL’s Lithuanian branch confirmed that the aircraft belonged to Swift and that the cause of the accident was unknown.
The plane was built 31 years ago, which according to aviation experts is quite significant, but not an unusual age for cargo machines.
Germany’s secret services said some time ago that Russia was apparently behind the package fire at DHL’s logistics center in Leipzig in July. It just happened that the package caught fire on the ground and not in the plane. British counter-terrorism police also recently said they were investigating a fire at a DHL logistics center near Birmingham in July, which was caused by a package catching fire. It is working with security forces elsewhere in Europe to determine whether there is a link between the incidents.
The Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza wrote in October that the packages that caused fires in warehouses in Germany, Britain and Poland were sent from Lithuania. An adviser to the Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauséda then said earlier this month that Russia was responsible for these shipments.
Here are two PAA-related questions for the provided interview format:
## World Today News Interview: DHL Cargo Plane Crash in Vilnius
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today we’re discussing the tragic crash of a DHL cargo plane near Vilnius airport, an incident that has raised concerns about potential causes and implications. We are joined by two experts to shed light on this complex event. [Introduce your Guests: Name, title, area of expertise].
**Section 1: The Immediate Aftermath**
* **Question 1 (for Guest 1):** The crash resulted in the loss of one life and injuries to three others, while also causing a fire in a nearby residential building, fortunately without further casualties. Can you walk us through the initial response efforts and the challenges faced by the emergency services?
* **Question 2 (for Guest 2):** Reports indicate that debris from the plane scattered widely, impacting a residential area. What are the immediate concerns regarding potential environmental hazards and the containment efforts?
**Section 2: Investigating the Cause**
* **Question 3 (for Guest 1):** Lithuanian authorities have suggested a technical fault or human error as the most likely cause, while also acknowledging the possibility of terrorism. With the investigation still in its early stages, what factors will investigators prioritize in determining the cause?
* **Question 4 (for Guest 2):** Given the heightened security concerns in the region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, how might this geopolitical context influence the investigation and the interpretation of potential findings?
**Section 3: Connections and Context**
* **Question 5 (for Guest 1):** The article mentions recent incidents involving fires at DHL facilities in Germany and Britain, allegedly linked to packages shipped from Lithuania. Could you explain the potential connections, if any, between these incidents and the crash in Vilnius?
* **Question 6 (for Guest 2):** Given the ongoing tensions with Russia and its alleged involvement in the package fires, how might this incident impact Lithuania’s security posture and its relationship with its allies?
**Section 4: Impact and Outlook**
* **Question 7 (for Guest 1):** What are the broader implications of this incident for air safety regulations and airport security in Europe and beyond?
* **Question 8 (for Guest 2):** This tragedy has undoubtedly caused grief and anxiety within Lithuania. What messages of hope and resilience should be conveyed to the affected community and the wider international community?
**Conclusion:**
Thank you to both our guests for their insights. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of safety in air transport. As the investigation unfolds, we hope for a thorough and transparent process that will provide answers and guide future preventative measures.
**Remember:** These are just starting points, and the conversation can flow organically based on the guests’ responses.
**Pro Tips:**
* Encourage a balanced discussion, allowing both guests to present contrasting viewpoints.
* Probe deeper into the guests’ answers, asking follow-up questions to gain deeper understanding.
* Maintain a respectful and empathetic tone, acknowledging the sensitivity of the topic.
