Germany Plane crash in Lithuania: Authorities suspect pilot error
A good four months after the crash of a cargo plane in Lithuania, the authorities have announced the possible cause of the accident.
26.03.2025, 15:06
SDA
In a statement, the General Prosecutor's Office in Vilnius assumed, on the basis of its investigations, that the pilot of the Swift Air plane, which was on its way from the German city of Leipzig to Vilnius on behalf of DHL, had made a human error. The Lithuanian authorities have therefore asked the relevant Spanish authorities to carry out the necessary investigations and to question the man, who is currently undergoing medical treatment.
Cargo plane crashed into residential area
The cargo plane crashed into a residential area near Vilnius Airport on the morning of November 25, 2024 shortly before its planned landing and crashed on the ground. One of the four crew members was killed, while the rest of the crew - another Spaniard, a German and a Lithuanian - survived with injuries. The Lithuanian authorities launched an extensive investigation following the crash.
According to the Public Prosecutor General's Office, the accident was probably caused by the deactivation of the hydraulic system responsible for extending the landing flaps. This probably led to the plane crashing, according to the statement.
This was the result of the analysis of the interviews conducted in Lithuania, the investigation of the crash site and the evaluation of the two flight recorders as well as other information obtained. Other versions of the course of the accident were refuted by the data obtained during the investigation.
