The search for the cause of the crash of a cargo plane that took off from Leipzig will take some time, according to the Lithuanian police chief. Inspecting the crime scene, gathering evidence and collecting information and objects could take a whole week. "These answers will not come so quickly," said Arunas Paulauskas at a press conference this morning.
The plane tried to land and did not reach the runway, Paulauskas said. The crash was "most likely due to a technical error or human error". At the same time, when asked whether it could also have been a terrorist attack, he said that such a scenario could not be ruled out. "This is one of the versions of the crash that needs to be investigated and verified. There is still a lot of work ahead of us."
The cargo plane, which had taken off from Leipzig on behalf of the postal service provider DHL, crashed in the early morning near the airport in the Lithuanian capital. At least one person was killed.
The head of the Lithuanian rescue service, Renatas Pozela, said that the cargo plane crashed a few kilometers from the airport, skidded several hundred meters and its debris hit a residential building. The house had two floors and four apartments. Three families lived in it. All twelve residents are safe.
The flames had completely destroyed the plane, a spokeswoman for the Lithuanian rescue service told the Lithuanian news agency Elta. Six fire engines and a water transport vehicle were deployed at the crash site.
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