Tragic air accident in Vilnius leaves one dead and three injured in a home.

A tragic air accident occurred this Monday near Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, when a cargo plane operated by Swiftair, a contractor for DHL, crashed into the yard of a house, resulting in at least one death and three injuries. The incident happened around 5:30 a.m. (local time), and local authorities have begun a thorough investigation to clarify the causes of the accident.

The Boeing 737-476(SF), which was 31 years old and was on a flight from Leipzig, Germany, crashed a few kilometers before reaching Vilnius Airport. According to the General Police Commissioner, Arūnas Paulauskas, the accident left the affected house with minor damage, and fortunately, none of the 12 residents present at the time were injured, as they were able to evacuate in time.

The head of the National Crisis Management Center, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, confirmed that one of the crew members was found without vital signs and that two others were taken to a hospital. Authorities have identified the deceased pilot as a Spanish citizen, while one of the injured is also Spanish, and the other two victims are a German citizen and a Lithuanian.

The acting Prime Minister, Ingrida Šimonytė, commented on the accident, highlighting the importance of there being no casualties among the residents of the impacted home. Šimonytė assured that the municipality would receive all necessary assistance to handle the situation. For his part, the Mayor of Vilnius, Valdas Benkunskas, reported that the fire caused by the accident was quickly controlled by emergency services, preventing severe damage to the property.

The Boeing 737, which had a history of operations, had made a turn to the north of the airport before crashing just over 1.5 kilometers from the runway. Weather conditions at the time of the accident included temperatures near freezing and winds of up to 30 kilometers per hour, factors that may have influenced the incident, although the definitive causes have not yet been established.

Operations at Vilnius Airport continued normally despite some flights experiencing delays, including one destined for Riga, Latvia, which was canceled. Airport authorities confirmed that they responded quickly and effectively to the incident, highlighting the efforts of the emergency teams.

DHL, based in Bonn, Germany, has not issued any comments regarding the accident so far, nor has Swiftair responded to requests for information. The lack of official statements has generated uncertainty among the local community and the media, who are awaiting answers regarding an accident that has left deep sadness in the region.

As the investigation progresses, Lithuanian authorities are focusing their efforts on analyzing all the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the aircraft's maintenance and the decisions made by the crew. The community remains expectant for the results, hoping that the reasons behind this tragedy can be clarified.

Meanwhile, attention is being directed towards supporting those affected and ensuring the safety of the population. The rapid response of emergency services has been crucial in preventing further tragedies, and community solidarity has been evident through offers of assistance to those living in the impacted home.

This air accident resonates in the memory of many, reminding them of the fragility of life and the importance of safety in air transport. The Vilnius community mourns the loss and hopes that investigations will lead to improvements in safety regulations to prevent future incidents.