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Lithuanian prosecutors have indicated that human error is likely the cause of the DHL cargo plane crash that occurred in Vilnius last November. Operated by Madrid-based Swiftair, the aircraft, a Boeing 737-400, was on a flight from Leipzig, Germany, when it crashed a few kilometers from Vilnius Airport.
"The primary cause of the crash is believed to be human error," stated the Prosecutor General's Office. Investigations, including witness interviews, site inspections, and analysis of flight recorder data, suggest that a disabled hydraulic system responsible for deploying the flaps contributed to the crash.
An audio recording between the cockpit and control tower captured the final minutes before the incident. Aviation expert Vidas Kaupelis reviewed the communication and noted no alarms or problems were declared by pilots during routine communication. "The fact that the aircraft crashed a few seconds after the end of the communication shows that the pilots themselves were surprised," said Kaupelis.
