DHL Cargo Plane Crashes Into House Amid Russian Sabotage Fears

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A DHL cargo plane crashed into a residential house in Vilnius, Lithuania, sparking concerns over possible sabotage just a month after European intelligence agencies warned of Russian attempts to disrupt cargo flights using small bombs. The crash claimed the life of one crew member and left three others injured.  

A DHL cargo plane crashed into a house in Vilnius, Lithuania, a month after European intelligence agencies warned Russia was trying to sabotage cargo flights with small bombs pic.twitter.com/dE68biYXr1

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 25, 2024

 

The Boeing 737 was on its approach to Vilnius airport early Monday morning when it struck a two-story home. Fortunately, all the residents of the house survived, according to a spokesperson for Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre. The ill-fated plane had departed from Leipzig, Germany, a city that had recently been a focal point of warnings about incendiary devices targeting DHL cargo operations.  

After the Russian GRU is caught trying to blow up DHL planes in Europe, a DHL plane blows up in Europe.

Police in Lithuania today saying the "possibility of a terrorist attack cannot be ruled out", after a DHL flight crashes in this morning in Vilnius. pic.twitter.com/OcNGwlRiIU

— SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre (@StratcomCentre) November 25, 2024

 

In October, German police confirmed that a small incendiary device detonated at a DHL warehouse in Leipzig before it could be loaded onto a flight. This alarming incident prompted heightened scrutiny, as similar threats were detected elsewhere. In the UK, counter-terrorism police launched an investigation into a comparable device that ignited in a Birmingham warehouse in July after being transported on a DHL flight from Leipzig. Notably, both devices were traced back to Lithuania, a country on Russia’s border with a history of geopolitical tensions.  

 

The crash in Vilnius has reignited fears about the potential for sabotage. Konstantin von Notz, chairman of the German Parliamentary Intelligence Service Commission, underscored the urgency of uncovering the truth. “Given the known acts of sabotage using incendiary devices on DHL cargo, as well as Leipzig airport, this accident must be immediately and thoroughly investigated,” he stated.  

 

 

Despite these concerns, Lithuanian officials have urged caution in drawing conclusions. Laurynas Kasciunas, Lithuania’s defense minister, stated there was no evidence linking the crash to sabotage or terrorism. “So far there are no signs or facts that this is a sabotage or terrorist act, there really aren’t any. It is said that there was some kind of external influence on the plane,” he remarked.  

 

Images from the crash site revealed a devastating scene, with smoke rising from the destroyed house and fragments of the aircraft’s cockpit and engine scattered nearby. A video from a nearby industrial yard captured the aircraft’s final moments, showing it flying low before crashing into the residential area, igniting a massive explosion and fireball.  

 

Investigators have yet to determine whether technical or human error played a role in the crash. Kasciunas noted that the inquiry could take up to a week to provide initial findings. In the meantime, the incident has intensified calls for vigilance in addressing the security threats facing international cargo operations.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-11-26