Swiftair Flight 5960

{{Short description|2024 Boeing 737 crash in Vilnius, Lithuania}}

{{Infobox aircraft occurrence

| occurrence_type = Accident

| name = Swiftair Flight 5960

| image = EC-MFE B734 Swiftair MUC 20240718.jpg

| image_upright = 1.15

| caption = EC-MFE, the aircraft involved in the accident

| date = 25 November 2024

| summary = Crashed on approach; hydraulic system disabled

| site = Liepkalnis, near Vilnius Airport, Vilnius, Lithuania

| coordinates = {{Coord|54|39|27.86|N|025|18|7.31|E|display=inline,title}}

| occupants = 4

| passengers =

| crew = 4

| fatalities = 1

| injuries = 3

| survivors = 3

| aircraft_type = Boeing 737-476(SF){{efn|Boeing assigned a unique customer code to each of its customers from 1958 until 2016, denoted as a suffix to the model number. 76 denotes an aircraft built for Trans Australia Airlines (later known as Australian Airlines). This aircraft was a 737-400 model, hence the designation 737-476. SF stands for 'Special Freighter', referring to an aircraft originally built for passenger transport but later converted into a cargo aircraft.}}

| origin = Leipzig/Halle Airport, Leipzig, Germany

| destination = Vilnius Airport, Vilnius, Lithuania

| operator = Swiftair for European Air Transport Leipzig (DHL Aviation)

| IATA = QY5960

| ICAO = BCS18D

| callsign = POSTMAN 18 DELTA

| tail_number = EC-MFE

}}

Swiftair Flight 5960 (operating as European Air Transport Leipzig Flight 18D){{Cite web |last=Hradecky |first=Simon |date=2024-11-25 |title=Accident: Swift B734 near Vilnius on Nov 25th 2024, impacted building on final approach |url=https://avherald.com/h?article=520c0e2b&opt=0 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=The Aviation Herald |archive-date=26 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241126145630/https://www.avherald.com/h?article=520c0e2b&opt=0 |url-status=live }} 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, crashed into the ground short of the runway and came to a stop near a two-story house in Liepkalnis.{{cite news |date=25 November 2024 |title=Vilniuje nukritęs lėktuvas kelis šimtus metrų dar čiuožė žeme: visa įvykio eiga |trans-title=The plane that crashed in Vilnius continued to slide along the ground for several hundred meters: the full course of the incident |url=https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/lietuva/vilniuje-nukrites-lektuvas-kelis-simtus-metru-dar-ciuoze-zeme-visa-ivykio-eiga-n1380190 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=TV3 |language=lt |quote=Jis nukrito likus keliems kilometrams iki oro uosto ir apie kelis šimtus metrų čiuožė. Iš esmės, jo nuolaužos kažkiek užkabino gyvenamą namą |trans-quote=It fell a few kilometers from the airport and slid for about a few hundred meters. Basically, its wreckage somehow caught a residential building.}} The captain was killed in the accident and the other three were injured. No one on the ground was injured.{{cite news |last=Sytas |first=Andrius |date=25 November 2024 |title=DHL plane crash in Lithuania leaves authorities searching for answers |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/dhl-cargo-plane-crashes-near-vilnius-airport-2024-11-25/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=Reuters}}{{cite news |date=25 November 2023 |title=Vilniuje netoli oro uosto nukrito krovininis lėktuvas: žuvo mažiausiai vienas žmogus |trans-title=Cargo plane crashes near Vilnius airport, at least one person killed |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/verslas/4/2422029/vilniuje-netoli-oro-uosto-nukrito-krovininis-lektuvas |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=LRT |language=lt |archive-date=25 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125060548/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/verslas/4/2422029/vilniuje-netoli-oro-uosto-nukrito-krovininis-lektuvas |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Venckutė |first1=Erika |last2=Matonis |first2=Jaunius |date=25 November 2024 |title=Vilniuje šalia namo nukrito krovininis DHL lėktuvas, žuvo Ispanijos pilietis |trans-title=DHL cargo plane crashes near house in Vilnius, Spanish citizen dies |url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/crime/vilniuje-salia-namo-nukrito-krovininis-dhl-lektuvas-zuvo-ispanijos-pilietis-120067159 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241126021953/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/crime/vilniuje-salia-namo-nukrito-krovininis-dhl-lektuvas-zuvo-ispanijos-pilietis-120067159 |archive-date=26 November 2024 |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=Delfi |language=lt}}{{cite web |title=EC-MFE - Boeing 737-476(SF) - DHL Air |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ec-mfe#381bbfbf |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=Flightradar24 |archive-date=25 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125085133/https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ec-mfe#381bbfbf |url-status=live }}

Background

= Aircraft =

The aircraft involved was a 31 years old Boeing 737-400SF registered as EC-MFE. It was powered by two CFM International CFM56-3C1 engines.{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Accident Boeing 737-476 (SF) EC-MFE, Monday 25 November 2024 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/462773 |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Aviation Safety Network (ASN)}} It was operated by Swiftair on behalf of DHL.

= Crew =

The captain on board flight 5960 was a 48 year old male, with 5,432 flight hours, with 1,298 being on the Boeing 737. He also had experience on the ATR-72. The co-pilot on board was also a 34 year old male, though having less experience than the captain, he had 520 flight hours, of which, 190 were on the Boeing 737

Accident

File:Swiftair Flight 5960 crash.jpg

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 a couple houses, instead sliding between the roads, and eventually hitting a two-story house in the Liepkalnis neighborhood, approximately {{Convert|1.3|km|mi nmi|4=1}} north of the airport. The fire almost immediately broke out, causing a partial destruction of the house.

All 13 occupants of the house were safely evacuated.{{cite web |author=Zulonaitė |first=Greta |date=2024-11-26 |title=Rastos Vilniuje nukritusio DHL krovininio lėktuvo juodosios dėžės |trans-title=Black boxes of DHL cargo plane that crashed in Vilnius found |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2423568/rastos-vilniuje-nukritusio-dhl-krovininio-lektuvo-juodosios-dezes |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=LRT |language=lt |archive-date=26 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241126120736/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2423568/rastos-vilniuje-nukritusio-dhl-krovininio-lektuvo-juodosios-dezes |url-status=live }} Several roads were closed in Liepkalnis, while authorities urged people not to travel to the area.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2422090/cargo-plane-crashes-in-vilnius-one-person-killed |title=Cargo plane crashes in Vilnius, one person killed |date=25 November 2024 |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=LRT |archive-date=25 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125072200/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2422090/cargo-plane-crashes-in-vilnius-one-person-killed |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Ferreira Santos |first=Sofia |date=25 November 2024 |title=One dead and three injured in Lithuania cargo-jet crash |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr0v5rdnkzo |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=BBC News |archive-date=25 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125073725/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr0v5rdnkzo |url-status=live }} Several buildings and a car were also struck by the plane.{{Cite news |date=25 November 2024 |title=Germany fears outside hand in deadly Lithuania jet crash |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241125-dhl-cargo-plane-crashes-in-lithuania-killing-one |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=France 24}} The captain was killed in the accident, while everyone else survived.

Investigation

Acting Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas said that no signs indicating a sabotage have been identified in its preliminary stages.{{cite news |last=Biržietis |first=Dominykas |date=25 November 2024 |title=L. Kasčiūnas: kol kas nėra ženklų, kad lėktuvo katastrofa Vilniuje susijusi su sabotažu |trans-title=L. Kasčiūnas: there are no signs yet that the plane crash in Vilnius is related to sabotage |url=https://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/lietuva/politika/l-kasciunas-kol-kas-nera-zenklu-kad-lektuvo-katastrofa-vilniuje-susijusi-su-sabotazu-1201320 |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=Kauno diena |language=lt}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Satsiuk |first1=Siarhei |last2=Gambrell |first2=Jon |last3=Gera |first3=Vanessa |date=25 November 2024 |title=DHL cargo plane crashes and skids into a house in Lithuania, killing Spanish crew member |url=https://apnews.com/article/lithuania-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-ff6382bb359c64ca2a345d50e523c396 |access-date=25 November 2024 |work=Associated Press |archive-date=25 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125081958/https://apnews.com/article/lithuania-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-ff6382bb359c64ca2a345d50e523c396 |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite tweet |number=1861152839902626285 |user=NTSB_Newsroom |title=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. |date=2024-11-25 |access-date=2024-11-26}} 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.{{cite web |author=Vileikytė |first=Goda |date=2024-11-25 |title=Spanish, German officials to investigate cargo plane crash in Lithuania – ministry |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2422904/spanish-german-officials-to-investigate-cargo-plane-crash-in-lithuania-ministry |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=LRT |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television |archive-date=26 November 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed on Tuesday |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2423224/vilnius-airport-was-temporarily-closed-on-tuesday |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=LRT |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television |archive-date=27 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127040014/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2423224/vilnius-airport-was-temporarily-closed-on-tuesday |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Kaminski-Morrow |first=David |date=2024-11-25 |title=Polish flight-inspection King Air checks Vilnius navaids after 737 crash |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/polish-flight-inspection-king-air-checks-vilnius-navaids-after-737-crash/160889.article |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Flight Global |archive-date=28 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128002328/https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/polish-flight-inspection-king-air-checks-vilnius-navaids-after-737-crash/160889.article |url-status=live }} Both flight recorders (CVR and FDR) were found on the same day at around 11:30. 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Black Boxes Found As Lithuania Begins Investigation Into DHL Plane Crash |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-11-26-black-boxes-found-as-lithuania-begins-investigation-into-dhl-plane-crash/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=iHeart |archive-date=1 December 2024 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |last2=Kent |first2=Lauren |date=2024-11-26 |title=German leaders float sabotage questions in deadly DHL plane crash in Lithuania |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/26/europe/lithuania-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=CNN |archive-date=27 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127012408/https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/26/europe/lithuania-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-intl/index.html |url-status=live }} Due to the lack of a suitable laboratory in Lithuania, the flight recorders were to be sent to Germany for analysis.{{cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=Black boxes from plane that crashed in Vilnius to be sent to Germany |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2424323/black-boxes-from-plane-that-crashed-in-vilnius-to-be-sent-to-germany |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=LRT |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television |archive-date=27 November 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }} Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda also visited the crash site.{{cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Lithuanian president expects cause of plane crash in Vilnius to be fully uncovered |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2423337/lithuanian-president-expects-cause-of-plane-crash-in-vilnius-to-be-fully-uncovered |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=LRT |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television |archive-date=27 November 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }} On 29 November, 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.{{Cite web |date=29 November 2024 |title=Iš lėktuvo katastrofos vietos Vilniuje išvežtas "Boeing 737" variklis, uodegos fragmentai |trans-title=Boeing 737 engine and tail fragments removed from plane crash site in Vilnius |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2426954/is-lektuvo-katastrofos-vietos-vilniuje-isveztas-boeing-737-variklis-uodegos-fragmentai |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=1 December 2024 |access-date=1 December 2024 |website=LRT |language=lt}}

On 20 December, the Lithuanian justice ministry, citing police investigations and analysis of the flight recorders, announced that it had found no "unlawful interference" in the crash.{{Cite web |date=20 December 2024 |title=Lithuanian Investigators Find No 'Unlawful Interference' in DHL Cargo Plane Crash |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/20/lithuanian-investigators-find-no-unlawful-interference-in-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-a87415 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=20 December 2024 |title=Black boxes show no illegal interference behind plane crash in Vilnius |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2443967/black-boxes-show-no-illegal-interference-behind-plane-crash-in-vilnius |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=LRT |language=en}}

On 26 March 2025, the Prosecutor General's Office of Lithuania, citing pretrial investigations, stated that a human error was the likely cause of the crash, adding that the hydraulic systems responsible for deploying the aircraft's flaps were disabled.{{Cite web |date=26 March 2025 |title=Investigators in Lithuania cite human error for cargo plane crash that killed crew member |url=https://apnews.com/article/dhl-boeing-lithuania-cargo-plane-crash-spain-5bf212433a36c462b1368356354f2448 |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}} Lithuanian prosecutors also asked the Spanish authorities to serve a notice of suspicion to the pilot, who was by then being treated in Spain.

On 31 March, the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division released an interim report. The report stated that the flaps were in the retracted position and that the flight crew had switched to the wrong air traffic control frequency before the crash.{{Cite report |url=https://sia.lrv.lt/public/canonical/1743410501/521/2024-12-20%20Boeing%20737-400SF%20EC-MFE%20Interim%20Report.pdf |title=Accident to cargo aircraft Boeing 737-400SF, registered EC-MFE, operated by Swiftair, that occurred on 25 November 2024 near Vilnius International Airport, in Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania |author= |date=2024-12-20 |publisher=Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division |access-date=2025-03-31}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=DHL-Flugzeug in Litauen abgestürzt – Baerbock schließt Sabotageakt nicht aus |trans-title=DHL plane crashes in Lithuania – Baerbock does not rule out act of sabotage |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article254654664/Litauen-DHL-Flugzeug-abgestuerzt-Baerbock-schliesst-Sabotageakt-nicht-aus.html |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Die Welt |language=de |archive-date=26 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241126014923/https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article254654664/Litauen-DHL-Flugzeug-abgestuerzt-Baerbock-schliesst-Sabotageakt-nicht-aus.html |url-status=live }}

The media connected the accident to an arson attack on a DHL flight from Leipzig in July 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=German FM questions if DHL plane crash was 'hybrid incident' |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/11/26/german-foreign-minister-questions-if-dhl-cargo-plane-crash-was-a-hybrid-incident |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Euronews |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Moody |first1=Oliver |last2=Bremner |first2=Charles |date=2024-11-26 |title=DHL cargo plane crash heightens fears over Kremlin sabotage |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/dhl-cargo-plane-crash-lithuania-8gstrbnm3 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=The Times |place=Paris |archive-date=26 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241126215555/https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/dhl-cargo-plane-crash-lithuania-8gstrbnm3 |url-status=live }}