A DHL cargo plane crashed near Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania on November 25, 2024, killing one crew member and injuring three others, as investigators examine potential causes ranging from technical issues to sabotage.
The Boeing 737-400 aircraft, operated by Madrid-based Swiftair under contract for DHL, went down approximately 0.6 miles from the runway during its approach to landing. The plane skidded through a wooded area before colliding with a two-story residential building at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time.
Lithuanian Police Commissioner General Arunas Paulauskas acknowledged that investigators are exploring multiple scenarios, including the possibility of a terrorist act. “This is one of the versions that must be studied and checked,” Paulauskas said.
The crash occurs amid heightened scrutiny of cargo security across Europe. Earlier this year, Western security officials identified a series of suspicious incidents involving incendiary devices discovered in parcels intended for cargo flights departing from Leipzig, Germany, where Monday’s ill-fated flight originated.
Polish prosecutor Katarzyna Calów-Jaszewska confirmed the involvement of foreign intelligence operatives in sending parcels containing concealed explosives and hazardous materials. Similar incidents have been reported at courier facilities in Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has implemented additional security protocols for cargo shipments bound for the United States in response to these threats.
When asked on Monday evening if the crash could be attributed to hybrid warfare, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to public broadcaster ZDF by stating, “We are taking a close look at this situation. At this time, we cannot confirm anything, but it is a possibility. We are witnessing many troubling forms of hybrid warfare in Germany.”
Scholz emphasized that the cause of the crash requires a thorough investigation and that they weren’t making any accusations without evidence.
His statements came in response to similar comments made by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who, as reported by Reuters, told reporters at a G7 summit, “The fact that we, along with our Lithuanian and Spanish partners, must now seriously consider whether this was an accident or another hybrid incident highlights the unstable times we are currently facing, even in central Europe.”
On Tuesday, Baerbock elaborated that various recent events align with Russia’s strategy of “destabilization and division,” pointing out that the presence of thousands of propaganda bots, GPS signal disruptions, and a severed data cable in the Baltic Sea at the same time cannot all be coincidences.
Lithuanian officials, however, indicate that preliminary findings may point toward technical issues rather than sabotage. The aircraft did not utilize GPS for landing, and testing of Vilnius airport’s guidance systems revealed normal operation.
Outgoing Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte urged restraint in speculation about the cause. “In the current geopolitical context, we look at every incident differently than before, but I ask you to refrain from jumping to conclusions,” Simonyte stated on social media.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team to assist Lithuanian authorities with the investigation. Representatives from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration are also participating in the inquiry. Investigators have recovered the aircraft’s black boxes from the crash site.