Swift B734 at Vilnius on Nov 25th 2024, impacted building on final approach

Last Update: November 27, 2024 / 18:26:41 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 25, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Swiftair

Flight number
QY-5960

Departure
Leipzig, Germany

Destination
Vilnius, Lithuania

Aircraft Registration
EC-MFE

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-400

ICAO Type Designator
B734

Airport
Vilnius International Airport, Vilnius

Airport ICAO Code
EYVI

A Swiftair Boeing 737-400 on behalf of DHL, registration EC-MFE performing flight QY-5960 from Leipzig (Germany) to Vilnius (Lithuania) with 4 crew, was on final ILS approach to Vilnius' runway 19 maintaining routine communication with ATC until hand off to tower about 4nm before the runway threshold when the crew did not report on tower frequency, tower transmitted landing clearance into the blind, and the aircraft impacted ground about 0.87nm before the runway threshold at about 05:28L (03:28Z), skidded for about 247 meters before coming to rest at a residential building 0.74nm before the runway threshold and burst into flames. The two story residential building received roof damage and was on fire, however, there were no injuries on the ground to the 12 people living in the building. One pilot (48, Spanish) was killed, three crew (including a pilot (34), one German, one Lithuanian, one Spanish) have been taken to hospitals.

Rescue services reported one body was taken away from the accident site, two others (including the pilot) were taken to hospital with injuries. Later rescue services reported one person was killed and three people were taken to hospitals with injuries.

Police reported the causes of the crash are being investigated, most likely technical causes or human error, but terrorism as another possibility can not be ruled out. Investigators are currently at the hospital hoping to be able to interview the pilot. Collection of evidence could take a week.

DHL reported the aircraft needed to perform a forced landing about one kilometer before the airport.

The hospital reported one of the survivors is in critical condition.

The US NTSB, the German BFU as well as the Spanish CIAIAC are joining the investigation led by Lithuania's TAIIB (Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau).

On Nov 26th 2024 Lithuania's Ministry of Justice reported cockpit voice and flight data recorders have been removed from the wreckage at about 11:30am (09:30Z) Nov 26th 2024.

On Nov 26th 2024 Lithuania's Prosecution Office stated, that they have no evidence of sabotage or terrorism, the investigation currently focusses on an accident scenario like human error or technical malfunction, however, remains open in all directions. The on site collection of evidence should be completed in 2-3 days. So far 19 witnesses have been interviewed. The investigation by law enforcement runs in parallel to the aviation investigation and will likely conclude way ahead of the aviation investigation, which is expected to last a year.

On Nov 27th 2024 Lithuania's Ministry of National Defense said, that preliminary investigation results suggest that there was no sabotage though nothing is yet ruled out. Visual analysis shows there was no external influence. Conversations with the crew did not indicate there was any concern inside the aircraft, there was no smoke or chaos.

On Nov 27th 2024 Lithuania's Ministry of Justice reported the blackboxes are planned to be read out in Germany, a final decision by the investigation committee is about to be made.

Runway Elevation is 647 feet MSL, the last ADS-B position suggesting a flight level 007 thus indicates at 1020 hPa a height of 253 feet when the aircraft on a 3 degree glidepath should be at a height of 336 feet. Elevation at the point of first impact is 675 feet MSL. The ADS-B data suggest an average rate of descent of 972fpm at an average speed of 149 knots over ground between 03:27:29Z and 03:28:06Z.

Related NOTAM:
A5300/24 NOTAMN
Q) EYVL/QFALC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5438N02517E005
A) EYVI B) 2411250354 C) 2411250500 EST
E) AERODROME CLOSED DUE TO AN EMERGENCY

Metars:
EYVI 250520Z 17016KT 9999 OVC008 01/M00 Q1020 NOSIG=
COR EYVI 250450Z 18016KT 9999 OVC008 01/M00 Q1020 NOSIG=
EYVI 250420Z 18016KT 9999 OVC008 01/M00 Q1020 NOSIG=
EYVI 250350Z 18015KT 9999 OVC008 01/M00 Q1020 TEMPO OVC005=
EYVI 250320Z 18017KT 9999 OVC007 01/M01 Q1020 TEMPO OVC005=
COR EYVI 250250Z 17017KT 9999 OVC008 01/M01 Q1020 TEMPO OVC005=
EYVI 250220Z 18016KT 9999 OVC009 01/M01 Q1020 TEMPO OVC005=
EYVI 250150Z 17016KT 9999 OVC010 01/M01 Q1020 NOSIG=
EYVI 250120Z 18016KT 9999 OVC011 01/M01 Q1020 NOSIG=
EYVI 250050Z 17016KT 9999 OVC012 01/M01 Q1020 NOSIG=
EYVI 250020Z 17015KT 9999 -SNRA OVC013 01/M01 Q1021 NOSIG=
EYVI 242350Z 17016KT 9999 -SNRA BKN014 BKN041 01/M02 Q1021 NOSIG=
EYVI 242320Z 17016KT 9999 BKN016 01/M02 Q1021 NOSIG=
EYVI 242250Z 17014KT 9999 OVC021 00/M02 Q1021 NOSIG=
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 25, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Swiftair

Flight number
QY-5960

Departure
Leipzig, Germany

Destination
Vilnius, Lithuania

Aircraft Registration
EC-MFE

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-400

ICAO Type Designator
B734

Airport
Vilnius International Airport, Vilnius

Airport ICAO Code
EYVI

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This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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