DHL Cargo Plane Crashes Near Vilnius, Lithuania; Investigation Considers Possible Sabotage

In the early hours of November 25, 2024, a DHL cargo plane operated by Swift Air crashed during final approach near Vilnius Airport, Lithuania, narrowly missing a residential home. Of the four crew members onboard, one pilot was killed, another survived and remains conscious, while two others were hospitalized. Lithuanian police and state security authorities launched investigations, considering causes such as technical failure, human error, and potential sabotage. This follows heightened alert after discovery of incendiary devices in DHL shipments both in Lithuania and in Leipzig, Germany, pointing to possible Russian hybrid sabotage efforts. Lithuanian officials caution terrorism cannot be excluded though no direct accusations are yet made. DHL has been sensitized to these threats and is cooperating fully with ongoing investigations. The crash has sparked wider concerns about sophisticated hybrid warfare tactics targeting Western logistics and supply chains.