Lithuanian authorities have confirmed the recovery of the aircraft’s black boxes, from the site of the DHL cargo plane crash near Vilnius Airport.
The aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) were recovered from the crash site on Tuesday 26 November.
Investigators will complete the initial aircraft inspection within three days. Following the insitu inspection the wreckage will then be removed from the crash site, according to authorities.
Police Commissioner General Arūnas Paulauskas spoke at a press conference in Vilnius on Tuesday. “We are currently actively looking for a hangar where we can place these parts,” he said.
The Vilnius Accident
The accident occurred on Monday 25 November, involving a Boeing 737-400 freighter aircraft, operated by Swiftair on behalf of DHL. ATC cleared the aircraft to perform an ILS approach to runway 19, and the crew responded normally. The flight then crashed on approach to Vilnius International Airport.
The aircraft, en route from Leipzig, Germany, struck a residential building. It came down approximately 1 mile from the runway, resulting in a devastating fire.
Casualties and Investigation
One crew member, a Spanish national, tragically lost their life in the crash. ATC cleared the aircraft to perform an ILS approach to runway 19, and the crew responded normally. According to the local news source LRT, one of the injured men remains in critical condition.
The Lithuanian authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division will lead the investigation. Local authorities have interviewed 19 witnesses to Monday’s crash.
Recovery of Black Boxes
The recovery of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), commonly known as black boxes, is a crucial step in the investigation process. These devices contain vital information about the aircraft’s systems, flight parameters, and the conversations between the pilots.
By analyzing the data stored within these devices, investigators can gain valuable insights into the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Center, explains the next step of the investigation process.
“The key message today is that we are entering the next phase where we are moving from the recovery and the accident site inspection. To a calm and consistent investigation of the information, the collection of data and comparing that with data we have gathered from the scene and the aircraft.”
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