At least 1 killed, another injured in cargo plane crash in Lithuania – Reports

MOSCOW, November 25 (RIA Novosti) – At least one person was killed and another one was injured in a DHL cargo plane crash near the Vilnius airport, the LRT (Lithuanian Radio and Television) broadcaster reported on Monday, citing a Fire and Rescue Department representative.

Police representative Ramunas Matonis clarified that four people on board the plane were injured and one of the two pilots died, the broadcaster reported.

The DHL cargo plane was en route from Leipzig to Vilnius, according to the FlightAware tracking service.

According to preliminary information, the plane crashed near a residential building. Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas said it was sheer luck that the plane did not crash into the house but in the courtyard. All the residents of the house are safe and have been evacuated, the mayor was cited by the LRT as saying.

The cause of the crash is being investigated as being related to “technical issues,” the broadcaster said, citing the Lithuanian crisis center.

The operations of Vilnius Airport were not disrupted due to the plane crash, representatives of Lithuanian airports told the broadcaster.