Vilnius plane crash victim was 48-year-old Spanish pilot – police

A 48-year-old Spanish citizen died piloting the cargo plane in Vilnius, police have said. Another pilot, who was injured in the crash, is also a Spanish national, aged 34.

Other two crew members – a 55-year-old German and a 34-year-old Lithuanian – sustained injuries.

The injured men are being treated in Republican Vilnius University Hospital and Santaros Clinic.

A Boeing 737 flying from the eastern German city of Leipzig crashed on early Monday about one kilometre away from Vilnius Airport. It hit a residential house No 5 on Žirnių Street. The plane belonged to Spanish airline Swiftair and was contracted by German logistics firm DHL.

Prosecutors have opened a pre-trial investigation into improper maintenance or repair of vehicles or equipment and into violation of international flight rules.