One person has been killed after a light aircraft crashed while approaching Waterford Airport just before lunch hour.*
The Vulcanair P68C crashed at about 12.50pm on the approach to the airport at Killowen, south of Waterford city.
The emergency services were alerted and quickly on the scene. Waterford City and County Fire Services, paramedics from the National Ambulance Service and gardaí have all attended the scene near Tramore.
The deceased was the only person on board the aircraft.
The Garda press office confirmed in a statement that a local road near Tramore, the R685, has been closed to facilitate the rescue operation and diversions are in place.
“Gardaí and emergency services are currently at the scene of a collision involving a light aircraft at a location near Tramore, Co Waterford, which occurred at approximately 12.50pm this afternoon.”
“As this is a live and ongoing operation, no further information is available at this time,” gardaí said.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit said it has been notified of a crash involving a twin-engined aircraft in Co Waterford. “The AAIU is deploying a team of four inspectors of air accidents to the crash site to commence an investigation,” it said.
The small-twin engine aircraft was travelling south from Sligo to Béziers in southern France. According to open source flight data, the aircraft experienced engine trouble about 50km south of Ireland. It turned around and prepared for an emergency landing at Waterford Airport before crashing in a nearby field.
The Vulcanair P68C can accommodate six people and is chiefly used for short-range transport and flight training.
Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane said a rescue helicopter was among the 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. – Additional reporting: PA
This copy has been updated as a previous version stated three people were injured.*