Swiftair Flight 5960 Explained

Occurrence Type:Accident
Swiftair Flight 5960
Image Upright:1.15
Date:25 November 2024
Summary:Crashed on approach; under investigation
Site:Liepkalnis, near Vilnius Airport, Vilnius, Lithuania
Occupants:4
Crew:4
Fatalities:1
Injuries:3
Survivors:3
Aircraft Type:Boeing 737-476(SF)
Origin:Leipzig/Halle Airport, Leipzig, Germany
Destination:Vilnius Airport, Vilnius, Lithuania
Operator:Swiftair for European Air Transport Leipzig (DHL)
Iata:QY5960
Icao:BCS18D
Callsign:POSTMAN 18 DELTA
Tail Number:EC-MFE

Swiftair Flight 5960 (operating as European Air Transport Leipzig Flight 18D)[1] was an international cargo flight that crashed early in the morning on 25 November 2024 while on final approach to Vilnius Airport. The aircraft, flying from Leipzig/Halle Airport in Leipzig, Germany, to Vilnius Airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, was on approach when it crashed into the ground short of the runway, near a two-story house in Liepkalnis. One crew member was killed and the other three were injured. No one on the ground was injured.[2] [3] [4]

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-400SF registered as EC-MFE. It was powered by two CFM International CFM56-3C1 engines.[5] It was operated by Swiftair on behalf of DHL.

Accident

The aircraft took off from the DHL hub at Leipzig Airport at 02:08 UTC (03:08 local) on 25 November. The accident occurred at 03:28 UTC (05:28 local) as it was making its final approach to Vilnius Airport. The plane narrowly missed, sliding on the area and in the process, hitting a two story house in the Liepkalnis neighborhood, approximately 1.3km (00.8miles) north of the airport, and crashed on its property, causing a fire that reached the house. One of the two pilots, a Spanish-French citizen, died on impact, while three other crew members, including the other pilot, were injured and rescued.[6] They were later identified as nationals of Spain, Germany and Lithuania. The Spanish crew member was critically injured, while the other two were less injured.[7] Their survival was attributed by first responders to the aircraft's cockpit being separated on impact from its fuselage, which caught fire. The pilot, who was identified as a Spanish citizen, was transferred to Spain for further treatment.[8]

All 13 occupants of the house were safely evacuated.[9] Several roads were closed in Liepkalnis, while authorities urged people not to travel to the area.[10] [11] Several buildings and a car were also struck by the plane.[12]

Investigation

Acting Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas said that no signs indicating a sabotage have been identified in its preliminary stages.[13] The Lithuanian special services briefed that there had been no indications of foul play.

This accident is being investigated by the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division of the Ministry of Justice of Lithuania, with assistance of investigators from Spain, Germany and the United States. The safety investigation authority of Spain sent two investigators and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport of Germany sent four experts from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation to Lithuania to assist in the investigation.[14] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a team of US investigators from the NTSB, Boeing, and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Lithuania to assist with the investigation.[15] The Lithuanian Ministry of Justice also notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Commission and the FAA about the accident.[16]

On 26 November, the runway of Vilnius Airport was closed between 10:00 and 11:00 as part of police efforts to film the crash site using drones, resulting in delays to four flights.[17] A Beechcraft King Air 350 calibration and inspection aircraft of the Polish Air Navigation Service was also employed to check the guidance and navigational systems of Vilnius airport after the crash.[18] Both flight recorders (CVR and FDR) were found on the same day at around 11:30 am. Lithuanian authorities announced that an inspection of the crash site will be held in the next two to three days, and that after it the wreckage of the plane will be removed.[19] [20] Due to the lack of a suitable laboratory in Lithuania, the flight recorders were to be sent to Germany for analysis.[21] Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda also visited the crash site.[22] On November 29 the wreckage of the plane and its cargo were removed from the crash site and taken to a hangar, where they will be analysed during the investigation.[23]

Reactions

On 25 November, Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that authorities in Germany and Lithuania were currently examining all possibilities. Baerbock did not raise any direct accusations against individuals or states.[24]

The media connected the accident to an arson attack on a DHL flight from Leipzig in July 2024.[25] [26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hradecky . Simon . 2024-11-25 . Accident: Swift B734 near Vilnius on Nov 25th 2024, impacted building on final approach . 2024-11-25 . The Aviation Herald . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126145630/https://www.avherald.com/h?article=520c0e2b&opt=0 . live .
  2. News: Sytas . Andrius . 25 November 2024 . DHL plane crash in Lithuania leaves authorities searching for answers . 25 November 2024 . Reuters.
  3. News: 25 November 2023 . Vilniuje netoli oro uosto nukrito krovininis lėktuvas: žuvo mažiausiai vienas žmogus . Cargo plane crashes near Vilnius airport, at least one person killed . 25 November 2024 . LRT . lt . 25 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125060548/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/verslas/4/2422029/vilniuje-netoli-oro-uosto-nukrito-krovininis-lektuvas . live .
  4. Web site: EC-MFE - Boeing 737-476(SF) - DHL Air . 25 November 2024 . Flightradar24 . 25 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125085133/https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ec-mfe#381bbfbf . live .
  5. Web site: Ranter . Harro . Accident Boeing 737-476 (SF) EC-MFE, Monday 25 November 2024 . 2024-11-29 . Aviation Safety Network (ASN).
  6. News: Venckutė . Erika . Matonis . Jaunius . 25 November 2024 . Vilniuje šalia namo nukrito krovininis DHL lėktuvas, žuvo Ispanijos pilietis . DHL cargo plane crashes near house in Vilnius, Spanish citizen dies . 25 November 2024 . Delfi . lt . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126021953/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/crime/vilniuje-salia-namo-nukrito-krovininis-dhl-lektuvas-zuvo-ispanijos-pilietis-120067159 . live .
  7. Web site: Jakučionis . Saulius . 2024-11-25 . Vitkauskas: nesama duomenų apie sprogimą lėktuvo viduje, jis nesileido avariniu būdu . Vitkauskas: There is no information about an explosion inside the plane, it did not make an emergency landing . 2024-11-25 . LRT . lt . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126021723/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2422835/vitkauskas-nesama-duomenu-apie-sprogima-lektuvo-viduje-jis-nesileido-avariniu-budu . live .
  8. News: 4 December 2024 . Pilot injured in DHL plane crash in Vilnius moved to Spain for treatment . 4 December 2024 . LRT.
  9. Web site: Zulonaitė . Greta . 2024-11-26 . Rastos Vilniuje nukritusio DHL krovininio lėktuvo juodosios dėžės . Black boxes of DHL cargo plane that crashed in Vilnius found . 2024-11-26 . LRT . lt . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126120736/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2423568/rastos-vilniuje-nukritusio-dhl-krovininio-lektuvo-juodosios-dezes . live .
  10. Web site: Cargo plane crashes in Vilnius, one person killed . 25 November 2024 . 25 November 2024 . LRT . 25 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125072200/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2422090/cargo-plane-crashes-in-vilnius-one-person-killed . live .
  11. News: Ferreira Santos . Sofia . 25 November 2024 . One dead and three injured in Lithuania cargo-jet crash . 25 November 2024 . BBC News . 25 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125073725/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr0v5rdnkzo . live .
  12. News: 25 November 2024 . Germany fears outside hand in deadly Lithuania jet crash . 25 November 2024 . France 24.
  13. News: Biržietis . Dominykas . 25 November 2024 . L. Kasčiūnas: kol kas nėra ženklų, kad lėktuvo katastrofa Vilniuje susijusi su sabotažu . L. Kasčiūnas: there are no signs yet that the plane crash in Vilnius is related to sabotage . 25 November 2024 . Kauno diena . lt.
  14. News: Satsiuk . Siarhei . Gambrell . Jon . Gera . Vanessa . 25 November 2024 . DHL cargo plane crashes and skids into a house in Lithuania, killing Spanish crew member . 25 November 2024 . Associated Press . 25 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125081958/https://apnews.com/article/lithuania-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-ff6382bb359c64ca2a345d50e523c396 . live .
  15. 1861152839902626285 . NTSB_Newsroom . NTSB is leading team of US investigators (NTSB, Boeing & FAA) to Lithuania to assist Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division w/ their investigation of crash of Swift Air (dba DHL) Boeing 737 near Vilnius Monday. . 2024-11-25 . 2024-11-26.
  16. Web site: Vileikytė . Goda . 2024-11-25 . Spanish, German officials to investigate cargo plane crash in Lithuania – ministry . 2024-11-25 . LRT . Lithuanian National Radio and Television . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126021353/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2422904/spanish-german-officials-to-investigate-cargo-plane-crash-in-lithuania-ministry . live .
  17. Web site: 2024-11-26 . Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed on Tuesday . 2024-11-26 . LRT . Lithuanian National Radio and Television . 27 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127040014/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2423224/vilnius-airport-was-temporarily-closed-on-tuesday . live .
  18. Web site: Kaminski-Morrow . David . 2024-11-25 . Polish flight-inspection King Air checks Vilnius navaids after 737 crash . 2024-11-27 . Flight Global . 28 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241128002328/https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/polish-flight-inspection-king-air-checks-vilnius-navaids-after-737-crash/160889.article . live .
  19. Web site: 2024-11-26 . Black Boxes Found As Lithuania Begins Investigation Into DHL Plane Crash . 2024-11-26 . iHeart . 1 December 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241201101857/https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-11-26-black-boxes-found-as-lithuania-begins-investigation-into-dhl-plane-crash/ . live .
  20. Web site: Picheta . Rob . Kent . Lauren . 2024-11-26 . German leaders float sabotage questions in deadly DHL plane crash in Lithuania . 2024-11-26 . CNN . 27 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127012408/https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/26/europe/lithuania-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-intl/index.html . live .
  21. Web site: 2024-11-27 . Black boxes from plane that crashed in Vilnius to be sent to Germany . 2024-11-27 . LRT . Lithuanian National Radio and Television . 27 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127173729/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2424323/black-boxes-from-plane-that-crashed-in-vilnius-to-be-sent-to-germany . live .
  22. Web site: 2024-11-26 . Lithuanian president expects cause of plane crash in Vilnius to be fully uncovered . 2024-11-26 . LRT . Lithuanian National Radio and Television . 27 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127023441/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2423337/lithuanian-president-expects-cause-of-plane-crash-in-vilnius-to-be-fully-uncovered . live .
  23. Web site: 29 November 2024 . Iš lėktuvo katastrofos vietos Vilniuje išvežtas „Boeing 737" variklis, uodegos fragmentai . Boeing 737 engine and tail fragments removed from plane crash site in Vilnius . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241201145211/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2426954/is-lektuvo-katastrofos-vietos-vilniuje-isveztas-boeing-737-variklis-uodegos-fragmentai . 1 December 2024 . 1 December 2024 . LRT . lt.
  24. Web site: 2024-11-25 . DHL-Flugzeug in Litauen abgestürzt – Baerbock schließt Sabotageakt nicht aus . DHL plane crashes in Lithuania – Baerbock does not rule out act of sabotage . 2024-11-26 . Die Welt . de . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126014923/https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article254654664/Litauen-DHL-Flugzeug-abgestuerzt-Baerbock-schliesst-Sabotageakt-nicht-aus.html . live .
  25. Web site: 2024-11-26 . German FM questions if DHL plane crash was 'hybrid incident' . 2024-11-26 . euronews . en.
  26. Web site: Moody . Oliver . Bremner . Charles . 2024-11-26 . DHL cargo plane crash heightens fears over Kremlin sabotage . 2024-11-26 . www.thetimes.com . Paris . 26 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126215555/https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/dhl-cargo-plane-crash-lithuania-8gstrbnm3 . live .

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