Lithuania plane crash may be due to hybrid war

(CLO) German leaders raised the possibility that the cargo plane that crashed and caught fire in Lithuania last Monday was caused by sabotage or "hybrid warfare", as well as possibly being related to terrorism.

The cargo plane was flying from Leipzig, Germany and was due to land at Vilnius Airport in the Lithuanian capital when it crashed several kilometers short of the runway. The plane skidded several hundred meters before crashing into a house.

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Video of the plane crash (source AP)

"There are many forms of hybrid warfare"

Asked on Monday evening whether the crash was the result of hybrid warfare, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF: "We are looking into this very carefully, we cannot say at the moment, but it could be so - there are many bad forms of hybrid warfare that we see in Germany."

Mr Scholz said the cause of the accident "needs to be closely investigated. But we will not press charges until we can prove it".

Earlier, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also stated: "The fact that we, together with our Lithuanian and Spanish partners, now have to seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident (or) another mixed incident shows what uncertain times we are living in, even in the heart of Europe."

On Tuesday, Ms Baerbock added that a number of recent incidents fit a pattern of “destabilisation and division”, noting that “thousands of propaganda broadcasts, disrupted GPS signals or even a cut data cable in the Baltic Sea – all of that cannot be a coincidence at the same time”.

Meanwhile, Lithuanian authorities insist there is no evidence of sabotage. However, the head of Lithuania's counterintelligence agency, Darius Jauniskis, told reporters at a press conference: "We cannot rule out the possibility of terrorism..."

The US National Transportation Safety Board is sending its staff to assist in the investigation, along with representatives from Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration, Reuters reported.

Footage from a nearby security camera shows the plane descending before disappearing from view behind a building. Minutes later, a large fireball can be seen rising from behind the building, followed by a plume of black smoke.

One crew member died in the crash. Three others on board, including the pilot, survived, while 12 people in the house that crashed on the ground were safely evacuated, according to local authorities.

Russia says allegations are 'incomprehensible hoaxes'

A spokesperson for the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice told CNN that the plane's two black boxes recording flight data were found at the crash site on Tuesday.

The scene of the accident near Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that incendiary devices in Leipzig, Germany, and the United Kingdom in July were part of a covert Russian operation to cause fires on cargo and passenger flights bound for the United States and Canada.

Speaking at a press conference, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the WSJ reports "incomprehensible hoaxes that are never supported by any reliable information."

The cargo plane that crashed on Monday was a plane operated by Spain-based airline Swiftair “operating under contract with DHL,” the logistics company said in a statement. The plane that crashed was a Boeing 737-400, according to Swiftair’s statement.

DHL said the plane "made a forced landing approximately one kilometer from VNO Airport." The airline confirmed there were four people on board. "The cause of the accident is still unknown and an investigation is underway," DHL said.

According to Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas, the plane narrowly avoided hitting the house and instead crashed into a nearby courtyard. Lithuanian Police Chief Arūnas Paulauskas said the incident was "most likely due to a technical failure or human error" but "terrorism cannot be ruled out".

Bui Huy (according to CNN, Reuters, DW)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/duc-vu-roi-may-bay-o-lithuania-co-the-do-chien-tranh-hon-hop-post323052.html