Germany: DHL plane crash may have been caused by Russian action, armed forces say

The Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, Carsten Breuer, has suggested that past Monday’s DHL level clang successful Vilnius mightiness beryllium a “test” by Russia arsenic portion of exploring “unconventional” attacks against Western countries.

“We faced a akin incidental past summer, and present thing fitting the aforesaid signifier has occurred,” Breuer said, referring to a occurrence successful July astatine DHL’s cardinal warehouse successful Leipzig caused by a instrumentality successful a parcel. During the investigation, arrests were made successful Lithuania, from wherever the bundle originated. In August, German information authorities issued a informing astir akin incidents, which was shared with airlines and logistics companies.

Speaking connected ARD, Germany’s nationalist broadcaster, Breuer affirmed the anticipation that Russia could beryllium probing vulnerabilities successful the system. He noted that Vladimir Putin is creating a script that is “neither bid nor outright war” to trial the boundaries.

Referring to the imaginable instrumentality of Donald Trump to the White House, Breuer predicted that the U.S. president, “like his predecessors,” would propulsion for Europeans to instrumentality greater work for their ain defense. He added that adjacent if Kamala Harris had been elected, the lone quality would person been much clip granted to Europe. “We successful Europe and Germany indispensable put overmuch much successful our defense,” helium emphasized.

Lithuania: DHL Plane Crash Likely Caused by Technical Issue, Not Sabotage
Lithuanian officials person recovered nary grounds to suggest that Monday’s DHL cargo level clang was owed to sabotage, indicating that method issues are a much apt cause.

The level crashed portion approaching Vilnius airport, sidesplitting 1 of the unit members connected board. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock aboriginal remarked that the incidental could person been an mishap oregon a hybrid onslaught successful “volatile times.”

“With each the information we have, determination are nary signs pointing to sabotage,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas told reporters.

Visual investigation of the clang indicated nary outer interaction connected the craft during its landing. Survivors reported nary panic, smoke, oregon antithetic smells wrong the level earlier the crash, Kasčiūnas added.

Investigators are leaning towards a method fault, said Vilmantas Vitkauskas, caput of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Center. “If caller accusation comes to light, we whitethorn alteration course, but for now, this is the direction,” Vitkauskas noted.

Vilnius airdrome systems guiding incoming craft were recovered to beryllium functioning usually during tests conducted connected Tuesday. Additionally, officials stated the level did not trust connected GPS for landing, making awesome interference improbable to person played a role.