Light Aircraft Crashes Near Waterford Airport, Killing One

A twin-engine light aircraft crashed into a field near Waterford Airport in County Waterford, Ireland, on Thursday afternoon, killing one person and injuring three others on board. The incident occurred around 12:50 p.m. near the townland of Lisselan, between Tramore and the airport, prompting a large-scale emergency response.

The aircraft, registered as EIHPY and believed to be a Vulcanair model, had departed from Sligo Airport earlier that day en route to Béziers-Cap d'Agde Airport in France. Flight tracking data indicated the pilot declared an emergency approximately 100 miles off the southeast Irish coast over the Celtic Sea. The plane then executed a U-turn and headed back toward Waterford Airport, descending rapidly as it crossed the coastline. Witnesses reported the aircraft losing height quickly before it impacted the ground nose-first in a field off the R685 road. The front section sustained major damage, while the tail remained upright, suggesting the landing gear may have sunk into the soft terrain.

Gardaí, paramedics, the Waterford Fire Brigade, and Coast Guard units, including the Rescue 117 helicopter, responded immediately. Around 20 to 30 emergency personnel were...