Two men were pronounced deceased after a helicopter crashed in Kilucan, County Westmeath.
An Garda Síochána [Ireland's police force] confirmed on Tuesday, July 30, that gardaí and emergency services were at the scene of an incident involving a helicopter at a location near Killucan, County Westmeath which occurred at approximately 3:30 pm. An Garda Síochána confirmed that two people on board the aircraft had been pronounced deceased at the scene.
An Garda Síochána was liaising with the family of one male, an Irish national in his 40s.
They were also working to establish contact with the next of kin of the second male, also in his 40s, who is understood to be from Eastern Europe. An Garda Síochána said they may request the assistance of Interpol.
Both bodies were 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 attended the scene on Tuesday.
An Garda Síochána said that Ireland’s Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) is the authority for investigating air accidents and serious incidents in Ireland and is the lead agency investigating this aircraft incident.
The AAIU has been notified of an accident involving a single-engine helicopter near Killucan Co. Westmeath this afternoon. The AAIU is deploying a team of inspectors at this time. Further updates will be provided when available.
— AAIU IRELAND (@aaiu_ireland) July 30, 2024
The scene will remain persevered overnight on Tuesday to allow for this investigation to take place.
An Garda Síochána will assist the AAIU by providing any technical and/or forensic services which may be required in the course of their investigation.
July 30, 2024: Members of the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) at the scene of the helicopter crash in Kilucan, Co Westmeath. (RollingNews.ie)
The AAIU later said it had left the scene of the helicopter accident and would return on Wednesday morning "to continue the recovery process to our wreckage examination facility at Gormanstown Co Meath."
The AAIU further announced that a temporary airspace restriction had been put in place around Joristown Upper, Co Westmeath, to remain in place through Friday, August 2.
Safety notice: following a helicopter accident earlier today, a temporary airspace restriction has been put in place around Joristown Upper, County Westmeath. Effective Tuesday July 30th - Friday Aug 2nd, 2024. More details at https://t.co/02ZoIFEjQ3 #westmeath pic.twitter.com/Sv2uvJA6m0
— IAA (@IAApress) July 30, 2024
The Westmeath Examiner reported on Tuesday that the four-year-old helicopter, which had departed from Weston Aerodrome approximately 23 minutes earlier, crashed into an agricultural shed at Joristown, not far from Killucan GAA's grounds.
Not long before the two deaths were confirmed by An Garda Síochána on Tuesday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he was being briefed on the incident and that his thoughts and gratitude were with the emergency services.
Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash. This is a live operation and I am being kept briefed.
My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 30, 2024
Tanaiste Micheál Martin said he was "deeply shocked to learn of the tragic loss of life" in Co Westmeath.
Deeply shocked to learn of the tragic loss of life in the helicopter crash in Westmeath today.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 30, 2024
My thoughts and prayers go to those who died in this terrible accident, their families, and to the emergency services who worked in such difficult circumstances.
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