An investigation is underway following a small aircraft crash which claimed the lives of the pilot and a seven-year-old boy.
The accident occurred in County Offaly on Sunday, May 13, 2018.
The aircraft was found in the bogland close to Edenderry on Sunday afternoon. Reports say the pilot and the young boy had taken off from Clonbullogue before the accident occurred.
Air accident investigation underway into #offaly plane crash which claimed the lives of a 7 year old boy & the pilot pic.twitter.com/yWyKqySYFc
— Paul Quinn (@pdquinn7) May 14, 2018
The plane was carrying 16 parachutists, who had already departed the plane before the crash happened. One of the parachutists was the seven-year-old boy’s father.
It is understood that both of his parents attended the scene of the crash on Sunday afternoon. The family, who are originally from Poland, are said to be living in Dublin.
The scene of the crash is currently under investigation, with two engineers and a pilot from the Air Accident Investigation Unit carrying out the inquiry.
The local community is said to be in a great deal of shock. Offaly County Councillor Martin O'Reilly told Morning Ireland, “There was a sense of disbelief, shock and horror at such an incident in our area, particularly associated with the parachute club.”
Skydive plane crash - @ciaranmullooly reports that the little boy was a regular fixture at the airfield, often wearing his own flight suit. The child's father was present during the six hour effort to recover the two bodies.
— Morning Ireland (@morningireland) May 14, 2018
He added, “We're only waking up to this shocking news and it's only setting in, how serious it's been."
The remains of the pilot and the seven-year-old have been taken to the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore where a post-mortem will take place today.
