Vilnius, Nov 26 (IANS) — Investigators from Spain and Germany will assist Lithuanian authorities in determining the cause of a DHL plane crash near Vilnius airport. Laurynas Naujokaitis, Director of the Lithuanian Justice Ministry's Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division, confirmed the involvement of international experts.
Germany's aviation safety authority has dispatched four investigators to Lithuania, while Spain is sending two experts. The investigation, which will prioritize aviation safety, is expected to take at least a year. The US aviation administration has also been notified since the crashed Boeing 737-476 (SF) was manufactured in the United States.
The plane, owned by Spanish airline Swift Air, was operating on behalf of German shipping company DHL. It crashed into a residential area near Vilnius airport while flying from Leipzig, Germany, resulting in the death of a pilot and injuries to three others.