A tragic cargo jet crash at Lithuania’s Kaunas International Airport claimed the life of one crew member and injured three others on Sunday, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, operated by a European logistics company, went down shortly after an attempted emergency landing.
The twin-engine jet, en route from Frankfurt to Tallinn, reported technical difficulties while crossing Lithuanian airspace. Pilots requested an emergency landing at Kaunas, but the plane veered off the runway and burst into flames upon impact.
Firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the scene, battling intense flames to rescue the crew. One crew member, identified as the flight engineer, was declared dead at the scene, while three others were pulled from the wreckage and taken to a local hospital. Two are reported to be in critical condition.
“The aircraft suffered catastrophic damage upon landing,” said a spokesperson for Lithuania’s Civil Aviation Authority. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.”
The airport was temporarily closed, with flights diverted to Vilnius and Riga. Investigators from Lithuania’s aviation safety board and the aircraft’s manufacturer are working to determine the cause of the crash. Black box recorders have been recovered and will be analyzed in the coming days.
Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene as the jet approached the runway. “It was clear something was wrong. The plane was low, wobbling, and then there was a loud crash followed by flames,” said one local resident.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė expressed her condolences, saying, “This is a somber day for Lithuania. We stand in solidarity with the affected families and all those impacted by this tragedy.”
Kaunas International Airport resumed operations later in the day, but the crash has raised concerns about air safety in the region. The incident is the most serious aviation accident in Lithuania in over a decade, and authorities have pledged a thorough investigation to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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