Two men in their 40s have died after a helicopter crash in Co Westmeath.
The single-engine aircraft crashed into a farm building near Killucan about 3.30pm on Tuesday.
Two people on board the helicopter were pronounced dead at the scene – one is an Irish national in his 40s, the second man is also in his 40s and believed to be from Eastern Europe.
Both bodies have been removed to the Regional Hospital Mullingar where postmortems 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 Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit has deployed a team of inspectors to the site of the crash.
Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed his concern.
“Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
He added: “My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time.”
The building that the helicopter crashed into is close to pitches used by Raharney GAA club.
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 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.
