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Updated at 3.20pm
FOUR OCCUPANTS OF a light plane that crash landed near the Galway town of Portumna on Christmas Eve “got a taxi on to Limerick” according to witnesses.
The light ‘Piper’ aircraft caught fire in mid-air, according to the Irish Coast Guard.
Shortly after 2pm on Wednesday, the emergency service received a call from Shannon Air Traffic Control alerting them to the incident, and warning that the craft was expected to crash land around 3 miles east of Portumna, in Co Tipperary.
The Rescue 115 helicopter was dispatched from Shannon, and the Clare-based Killaloe Coast Guard Unit was also scrambled.
The plane was already on the ground in a large field by the time the Coast Guard helicopter arrived, minutes later, and all four occupants were found to be safe and well.
The fire, said to have been small, had extinguished itself.
After speaking with authorities, the pilot and passengers of the plane made their way from the scene after calling a taxi, and headed towards Limerick.
Killaloe Coast Guard members, who were almost at the scene, were stood down by Coast Guard control.
RTÉ News reports that two parents in their 30s and their two young children were on board the plane, and that the father was piloting the craft.
(Updated at 3.20pm to clarify that the pilot spoke with authorities before leaving the scene. Apologies for lack of clarity in earlier article — DB).
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3 days after the event and this article is almost entirely inaccurate… Firstly there was no fire but the engine did fail… Secondly the occupants of the plane were picked up by family members and brought on to their destination (not limerick, a completely different direction…) but only after the pilot gave a statement to the air investigation unit who came down from baldonnell…
The pilot did an incredible job to land the plane, and was well prepared to have potential landing spots picked out in case something happened! He was congratulated by the air investigators when they arrived.
Oh and the search and rescue helicopter came from sligo…
You may be correct about the rest Tadgh, but the rescue helicopter came from Shannon – it was incorrectly reported on RTE as having come from Sligo.
Incorrect, Avina. The helicopter did in fact come from Sligo.
Hi Tadhg,
I should have clarified in the earlier piece that pilot spoke to authorities. That’s updated now. Apologies. I’m happy to stand over the rest of the information I’ve been given. If you can put me in touch with anyone who was there or who may have further information, I’d really appreciate it, to add further detail. Drop me a mail at daragh@thejournal.ie. Thanks, all the best.
What are you basing that on Ryan?
Not true, it came from Shannon.
Do any of these details matter?
Yes, I think factual reporting does matter, although I’d agree its a relatively small detail in this case.
It’s a small detail but I still stand over my comment, the helicopter did infant depart from Sligo.
In fact*
Not true Ryan. Where are you getting your information from?
Bit strange that a cg ground unit were sent but no fire service?
Glad to hear they all got out okay. Good job Dad!
Better a taxi than an ambulance, the Pilot must be commended for getting the plane down safely.
That’s really great news.
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