Lithuania identifies technical malfunction as likely cause of DHL plane crash

The Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office has identified a technical malfunction as the most probable cause of the DHL cargo plane crash near Vilnius International Airport on November 25.

Prosecutor Artūras Urbelis shared the update with reporters, emphasizing that evidence points to issues with the aircraft's systems or piloting during its approach for landing, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Urbelis explained that information from air traffic control services, witness video footage, and expert testimonies all suggest that the crash occurred during the landing phase and was likely due to a technical failure rather than an accident caused by external factors.

"There were no indications of a crash in the air. The incident happened during the landing, which points to possible malfunctions in aircraft reception or piloting," he said.

The prosecutor also clarified that while the investigation remains ongoing, there is currently no evidence to support the theory of a terrorist attack. “There are no grounds for investigating a possible terrorist act at this time,” Urbelis confirmed.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine the precise cause of the malfunction.

A Spanish crew member was killed and three others were injured when a German plane crashed into a house near the Lithuanian capital on November 25.

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock raised concerns that the crash might not have been accidental, suggesting it could be a deliberate act. She told reporters, “We must now seriously consider whether this was an accident or if it was another hybrid incident,” referencing recent sabotage incidents involving severed cables in the Baltic Sea. Baerbock added that German authorities are working closely with Lithuania to fully investigate the incident.

Germany's Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, later clarified that there were no initial findings indicating the presence of explosives on the aircraft. Meanwhile, Germany is already investigating multiple fires caused by incendiary devices hidden in parcels at DHL warehouses earlier this year, according to the country’s prosecutor general.

Lithuanian authorities, however, refrained from linking the crash to that investigation. Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas stated that there were no signs or evidence pointing to sabotage or terrorism, adding that the investigation to determine the cause could take around a week.

German officials confirmed that they would launch their own investigation, staying in close contact with relevant institutions both domestically and abroad to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible, according to a security source quoted by Die Zeit.

The flight, operated by Swiftair on behalf of DHL, had taken off from Leipzig, Germany, before crashing in overcast conditions at around 03:30 GMT, according to a spokesperson for Lithuania's national crisis management center.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė expressed relief that no local residents were killed despite the crash occurring in a residential area. She urged against speculation, emphasizing the need for investigators to carry out their work.

By Vafa Guliyeva