One dead after ‘light aircraft’ crash in Ireland sparking emergency response

Irish authorities said the deceased was the sole occupant of the doomed plane, which they called a “light aircraft”.

Air crash investigators described the plane as a “twin-engined general aviation aircraft”.

Accounts of the incident describe the aircraft crashed in a field near the airport, with the tail-section still upright.

Online flight-tracking websites show the privately owned Vulcanair P68C was flying between Sligo and Beziers, in France, when it turned around off the south coast of Ireland and headed back towards Waterford before the crash.

At this time, it is unknown how many people were aboard the plane.

An Garda spokesman said: “As this is a live and ongoing operation, no further information is available at this time.”

The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Department of Transport is investigating the incident with the emergency services and the Irish Aviation Authority.

The AAIU said it is deploying four air accident inspectors to the site near Lisselan, outside Tramore.

Sinn Fein representative for Waterford, David Cullinane, said a rescue helicopter was among emergency services responding to the crash.

He said it was a “shock” to the local area, adding that the community’s thoughts are with whoever was on the plane.

Conor D. McGuinness, fellow Sinn Fein representative for Waterford, said he was: "Hearing reports of a twin engine plane crashing just outside Waterford City. Praying for the best outcome."

"Road closures in the vicinity of Waterford Airport. Please give our emergency services the space to do their work," he added.

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