One person has been killed after a light aircraft crashed while approaching Waterford Airport on Thursday afternoon.*
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 all attended the incident near Tramore.
The deceased was the only person on board the aircraft.
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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 Air Accident Investigation Unit said on X on Thursday night that it has completed its initial examination. It said it would return to the site on Friday morning to recover the wreckage to its examination facility at Gormanston, Co Meath.
The Garda Press Office said the scene was being preserved and investigations are ongoing.
The Vulcanair P68C can accommodate six people and is chiefly used for short-range transport and flight training.
Onlookers in Waterford reported seeing a light aircraft flying erratically just moments before the plane crashed into a field – not far from the sand dunes where an Irish Air Corps Eurocopter Dauphin helicopter crashed on July 2nd, 1999, when returning from responding to an emergency call out.
That helicopter was returning to Waterford Airport but visibility was poor due to darkness and fog and the plane crashed with the loss of all four crew on board Capt Dave O’Flaherty (30), co-pilot Capt Mick Baker (28), winch operator Sgt Pat Mooney (34) and winchman Cpl Niall Byrne (25).
Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane 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.*
