Lithuanian DHL Plane Crash May Be Sabotage, Suggests German Foreign Minister

Lithuanian authorities are currently investigating the cause of a recent plane crash near Vilnius but have found no evidence of sabotage so far.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting, “The fact that we, together with our Lithuanian and Spanish partners, must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or, after last week, another hybrid incident shows what volatile times we are currently living in, even in the center of Europe.” She also stated that German officials are collaborating closely with their Lithuanian counterparts to determine the cause of the crash.

Arūnas Paulauskas, Lithuania’s Police Chief, suggested the crash was “most likely due to a technical fault or human error,” but he did not dismiss the possibility of terrorism. “This is one of the versions of the crash that will be investigated and checked. There is a lot of work to be done,” Paulauskas stated, adding that gathering evidence could take up to a week and that no immediate answers are expected.

This crash comes against a backdrop of heightened concern over security incidents involving DHL flights. Earlier this year, a fire broke out at a logistics center in Leipzig due to an incendiary device shipped from Lithuania via DHL. Western intelligence agencies held Russia responsible for that incident, according to reports. British counter-terrorism officials are also investigating potential Kremlin involvement in a parcel bomb found at a DHL depot in Birmingham in July.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working to piece together the details and address the broader security implications of the incident.