Two men dead after helicopter crashes into building in Ireland as emergency services rush to the scene

Acting chief fire officer with Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service Pat Hunt said there had been "a number of casualties" on the civilian flight.

Two hearses were seen leaving the farm site earlier this evening.

Speaking on Midlands 103, a local radio station, Hunt said: "We understand that it's an incident involving a helicopter crashing into a building in the Joristown Upper townland in Killucan, Co Westmeath.

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

"All the the principal response agencies are mobilising to the scene: An Garda Siochana (Irish national police), the ambulance service and ourselves.

"What we can understand is that there are a number of casualties involved, but again, we cannot at this stage confirm the number."

The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) said it had deployed a team of inspectors to the site of the single-engine helicopter crash.

While data from air traffic monitoring site FlightRadar24 indicated that the helicopter, understood to be a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, stopped submitting flight data while flying northeast of Killucan, near what appears to be a number of farm buildings.

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The helicopter is thought to have taken off from Dublin approximately 25 minutes before it crashed.

Further images circulating on social media appear to show the aircraft having hit farm buildings, with the helicopter's fuselage lodged upside-down on the roof of what looks to be a barn.

Father Stan Deegan, Parish Priest of St Brigid's Church in nearby Raharney told Irish broadcaster RTE he was "shocked to hear the news".

"Whoever the people are who are involved in the incident and wherever they are from, I hope and pray that life will be spared.

"It is a serious event and you would worry for the families involved. The local community is a very hospitable one, with a good community spirit and the people here would respond to local needs."

The Mayor of the Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District, Ken Glynn, said the incident was "shocking and tragic".

Cllr Glynn said: "I'm surprised and shocked - it's not something you would expect to hear in your own locality... It is a difficult scene for emergency services to be attending."

Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed his concern on X, formerly Twitter: “Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash."

He added: “My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time.”