LAST UPDATE | 30 Jul 2024

TWO MEN HAVE been pronounced dead after a fatal helicopter crash near Killucan in Co Westmeath.

It happened around 3.30pm when the helicopter crashed into a farm building in the Joristown area, between Killucan and Raharney.

In statement this evening, gardaí said: “Two people on board the aircraft were pronounced deceased at the scene.

“An Garda Síochána are liaising with the family of one male, Irish national (40s).

“An Garda Síochána continue to establish contact with the next of kin of the second male (40s) who is understood to be from Eastern Europe, and may request the assistance of Interpol.

“Both bodies have been removed from the scene to Regional Hospital Mullingar where post mortems will take place in due course. The local Coroner has been notified.”

Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service and the National Ambulance Service have now left the scene.

AAIU members at the scene. Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

The Air Accident Investigation Unit said earlier in a post on social media that it had been notified of “an accident involving a single-engine helicopter near Killucan Co Westmeath this afternoon”.

Inspectors attended the scene and are expected back at the site tomorrow morning.

Data from FlightRadar shows that the helicopter took off from Weston Airport at around 3pm today and travelled west towards Maynooth. It circled once north of Kinnegad, before disappearing from tracking data north of Kinnegad, close to Raharney, at 3.24pm.

Local Labour councillor Denis Leonard said the location of the crash was a piggery. He said those in the area were “shocked and saddened,” by the crash.

Sinn Féin TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke, extended her sympathies to the families of the two men who died in the crash.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of two men following a shocking and tragic helicopter crash near Killucan today. My thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and loved ones,” she said.

She added that “locals have expressed to me their shock at this tragic event”.
 
“I want to extend also my sincere thanks to those who came to the aid of the men, the first responders and the emergency services. My thoughts are with them also this evening.”

- Additional reporting from Nicky Ryan and Lauren Boland