Locals have told how farm workers had a lucky escape after a helicopter crash-landed into a building in Co Westmeath yesterday.
Shopkeeper Declan Weir and one worker had just left the piggery when the aircraft struck the building on the rural farm near Killucan.
“One local guy, I was talking to his wife this morning, and he was just after coming out of the shed. He had been in the shed and checking it and narrowly missed it. He was walking around the other side of the building,” he told the Irish Independent.
The incident, which happened around 3:30pm yesterday, claimed the lives of two men in their 40s.
The tight-knit communities of Killucan and its neighbouring village of Raharney were still reeling from the shock of the incident today.
A number of locals told how they believed the single-engine aircraft had encountered difficulty seconds before tragedy struck.
“They tried to land in Jarristown pitch when they discovered there was something wrong with the engine and it must have pushed them on to the piggery,” said local community scheme employee Pat Keegan.
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“It’s terrible, just terrible and it’s a very dark day for the village.”
Shopkeeper Declan Weir said the tragic helicopter crash was not the first time the locality had been gripped by such a tragedy.
He said two people were killed “just 100 yards away” when a plane came down just outside the village 18 years ago.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit is now leading an investigation into the cause of a helicopter crash and returned to the site today.
Gardaí meanwhile said they were liaising with the family of the Irish man and were trying to establish contact with the next of kin of the second man, and may request the assistance of Interpol.
The debris of the helicopter at the piggery between Raharney and Killucan
The AAIU is expected to transfer the remains of the helicopter to a site in Gormanston, Co Meath, this afternoon where further examinations will be carried out.
Much of those enquiries are expected to focus on fears the helicopter may have encountered engine difficulty shortly after taking off from Weston Airport, which is home to Ireland’s leading Pilot Training Academy.
Local parish priest Fr Stan Deegan offered prayers for the victims and their families at local masses earlier today.
“It’s a tragic accident and sadly two lives have been lost and as far as I know there are no local connections,” he said.
“They took off from Weston and we prayed for their families this morning. Luckily there was no one on the ground, but I understand there may have been one of two people on site but thankfully they weren’t hurt.
“It’s just a matter of thinking of the families and how they have to seal with this awful tragedy and loss of life.”
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Local Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy said: “The local community is in a state of shock and sadness.
“It’s not something any community expects to happen on a nice summer’s evening or any evening for that matter.
“The thoughts of the community are very much with the families of the passengers and those who had been fatally wounded.
“We also think of the frontline emergency services who have had to respond to that horrific accident and to deal with the fallout of the accident.”
Sean Power was working on a roof just over half a kilometre from the crash scene.
“I was working away and the next thing I just heard the engine cut out,” he said. “I heard the airplane, I didn’t see it and the next thing I heard was a big bang. The engine just cut out and the bang was very quick after it so I don’t know if it was that high.”
Local shopkeeper Tom Keyes said the local community had been stunned by the incident.
“It is a terrible thing,” he said, revealing how a similar incident occurred in the area around 20 years ago.
“It is a dark day for the village and all of a sudden it is on every paper and every news bulletin. What more do you say? It’s unprecedented for the area.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed his concern.
“Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash,” he posted on X. “My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time.”
The AAIU deployed a team of inspectors to the site of the single-engine helicopter crash.
Emergency services, including gardaí, ambulance services, and Mullingar Fire Brigade attended the scene.
Emergency services and a hearse at the crash site in Westmeath. Photo: Collins.
Flight data shows that the helicopter, which is registered to a US company, had been flying for around 25 minutes prior to the crash.
The same aircraft had also undertaken a short journey this morning lasting 27 minutes, departing from, and returning to, Weston Airport near Lucan in Dublin.
David Jones, a Sinn Féin councillor in nearby Kinnegad, said the community was shocked by the incident.
“The Lucan, Jorristown, Raharney area – it’d be small communities, very close community so something like this would have a devastating impact on these communities.
A hearse arrives at the crash site in Killucan, Westmeath. Photo: Collins.
“I’m sure all communities around Jorristown are in shock at the moment and are just praying,” he told listeners on Midlands 103 FM.
Killucan is approximately 15km from Mullingar.
Ken Glynn, mayor of the Mullingar-Kinnegad municipal district, expressed his shock.
“My thoughts and prayers are with those involved and their families,” he said. “I also want to commend the emergency services for their rapid response.”
Councillor Denis Leonard represents the area where the crash occurred.
“Unfortunately it seems there are casualties on board,” he said. “Locally, people are shocked and stunned, but also their hearts just go out to the families of all those involved at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
“I want to thank the emergency services in Westmeath because they were very quickly on the scene and a huge operation took place straight away.
“They responded extremely quickly and I want to thank them for their service today.”
Mr Leonard noted the incident had come after a “horrific” weekend of tragedy on the roads, particularly in the Midlands, with three men killed in two separate collisions in Co Meath.
“You don’t expect to hear of a helicopter crash,” he added.