Shocked witnesses have told how a helicopter was seen "struggling" over a GAA pitch before its engine cut out – and they then heard a loud bang as it crashed nearby, killing the two men inside.
The men, both in their 40s, died after the helicopter ‘plummeted’ from the sky into a farm building in Killucan, Co. Westmeath, at around 3:30 pm on Tuesday.
Anthony Tierney told the Irish Daily Mail: "I was out here walking the dog when I heard it first. It went over the pitch when there was training going on and you could hear it struggling.
"It didn’t sound like how a helicopter usually flies. Then the engine went and that’s when we heard the bang – just a few seconds after the noise from the engine stopped.
"There was silence and then this massive loud noise. Within a few minutes you could hear the sirens."
Máire Colgan was out walking with her daughter in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
She said: "We could see about five or six ambulances all rushing through, trying to get down the lane that goes into the farm there.
"The sirens were blaring as well. You could hear them a mile away. I just hope the people there are okay. There was a similar enough crash here a long time ago, I’d say around 15 or 20 years ago when I was a teenager. I remember it. It’s crazy to think of two in that space of time."
July 30, 2024: The remains of the helicopter that crashed in Kilucan, Co Westmeath. (RollingNews.ie)
The helicopter had taken off from Weston in Dublin before crashing into the piggery on a farm outside Killucan.
One of the men who died is Irish and the other is believed to be from Eastern Europe. Gardaí said that they have contacted Interpol in the hope of reaching the Eastern European man’s next of kin.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) is now investigating the crash to ascertain exactly what had happened.
July 30, 2024: AAIU members in Kilucan after the helicopter crash. (RollingNews.ie)
Flight logs showed how the aircraft had taken eight short journeys earlier in the day prior to the crash, and that it had been certified as being flightworthy less than 12 months ago.
The unit will check for mechanical faults as well as potential pilot error as part of their investigation, sources familiar with the protocol around these sorts of events said.
The aircraft was registered to a US firm in Utah that specializes in retaining the privacy of their customers while taking journeys on aircrafts.
Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to the emergency workers at the scene. He posted on social media: "Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash. This is a live operation and I am being kept briefed.
"My thoughts and gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time."
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: "Deeply shocked to learn of the tragic loss of life in the helicopter crash in Westmeath today.
"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."
Councillor Denis Leonard represents the area where the crash happened. 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 in Ireland, 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.
Shopkeeper Tom Keyes told the Mail that the community has been left "shocked."
"I’ve had people into me telling me about it, how they heard it or saw it. It’s awful. What more can you say about it other than it’s a terrible thing to happen."
Daryl Kennedy, secretary of Raharney Hurling Club, said due to the tragic situation, all training sessions that were to be held at the ground yesterday evening were canceled.
"Raharney GAA Club sits right next to the entrance of the farm. The farm shed is about 300 meters from the pitch," he told RTÉ.
"Myself and the chairperson decided to pull all training due to the incident next door. We were due to have county training tonight and from U10 boys and girls, all the way to the senior team. So around nine or ten teams were due to train this evening."
In a statement on Tuesday night, gardaí said postmortem examinations will now be carried out on the bodies of the two men.
A spokeswoman said: "At approximately 3:30 pm gardaí and emergency services responded to a report of a serious incident involving a helicopter at a rural farm near Killucan, Co Westmeath.
"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. The Air Accident Investigation Unit… are the lead agency investigating this aircraft incident. The scene will remain preserved overnight 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."
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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