Cargo plane crashes into Lithuanian home, killing one and injuring two

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - A DHL cargo plane crashed into a two-story residential building near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania early Monday, killing one crew member and injuring two others, according to local authorities and public service broadcaster LRT.

The crash occurred at 5.31 am (GMT0731), triggering a large fire. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze.

Residents of the building escaped unharmed, while the pilot also survived the crash without injury. However, the other three crew members aboard the plane were less fortunate.

“Two have been taken to hospital, and one has been declared dead. These are the people who were on the plane, according to preliminary information,” Saulius Raševskis from the Lithuanian rescue service told LRT.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. It marks another troubling incident for DHL, which has faced operational disruptions this year.

In July, explosive devices at DHL logistics hubs in Germany and the UK sparked international investigations. The devices were believed to be part of a covert Russian operation targeting cargo and passenger flights destined for the US and Canada, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.