Tragedy struck near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania as a cargo plane flying from Leipzig, Germany crashed, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time near Zirniu Street, just south of the capital.
According to Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Center, one crew member was found deceased at the scene, while two others were rescued and promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.
Emergency response teams, including the Vilnius Airport Fire Service, are actively engaged in rescue operations at the crash site. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties among the 12 residents of a nearby house that narrowly escaped being hit by the plane.
The cargo aircraft involved in the crash was operated by SWIFT airline on behalf of DHL, as confirmed by a reputable news agency. Despite the tragic event, all scheduled flights at Vilnius Airport are proceeding, albeit with some delays due to ongoing rescue efforts.
Firefighters are on the scene, working to contain a large plume of smoke emanating from the crash site. The pilot of the plane was successfully recovered alive, and there are no additional reports of injuries on the ground.
As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, the community is coming together to support those affected by this devastating incident.
