According to rescue services, three crew members, including both pilots, were rescued from the burning aircraft. Sadly, one crew member was killed. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and two DHL employees. It is reported that just before the crash, the aircraft was at a height of 253 feet. However, based on the runway's 3-degree glidepath, it should have been at a height of 336 feet.
Debris from the plane and burning packages were scattered across a residential area, which was secured by emergency services. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas stated that there is currently no indication of sabotage or terrorism, and that the investigation to determine the cause is expected to take about a week.
In recent weeks, Lithuanian officials have investigated suspected sabotage involving incendiary devices on cargo planes. The aircraft, arriving from Leipzig, crashed approximately one kilometer from Vilnius airport, striking several buildings and skidding for hundreds of meters, as reported by police and DHL.
State Security Department head Darius Jauniskis commented that while terrorism cannot be excluded, and warnings have been issued regarding potential threats from an increasingly aggressive Russia, no definitive conclusions can be drawn at this time.
Aircraft Information:
Airline: Swift Air (DHL)
Code: WT/SWT
Aircraft: Boeing 737-476
Registration: EC-MFE
Serial Number: 24445
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-3C1First Flew: 6th October 1993
Age: 31 Years Old
Aircraft owner history
18/10/1993 VH-TJT Australian Airlines
31/10/1993VH-TJT Qantas Airways - Stored 08/2011 as N245SY
01/07/2013 XU-886 Wat Phnom Airlines - Stored 03/2014 as N245SY
19/03/2015 EC-MFE Swiftair
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