TWO men have died after a helicopter crashed into a building in a remote town.
The "shocking and tragic" incident took place near Killucan, Westmeath, in Ireland at around 3.30pm.
The victim were killed when their helicopter came down on the roof of a piggery outside the village of Killucan, said police.
Emergency services, including ambulances, gardaí and units of the Westmeath Fire Service rushed to the scene.
But both occupants of the aircraft were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the men who died was from Ireland and the other is understood to be from eastern Europe, the Garda said.
It is understood the helicopter was a small aircraft and the two men were the only passengers.
Their bodies have since been taken to Regional Hospital Mullingar where post-mortem examinations will be arranged.
Cops are liaising with the family of the Irish man who died.
Officers are still working to establish contact with the next of kin of the second man and may request the assistance of Interpol.
The flight originated at Weston, according to flight data, and the helicopter had been in the air for some 25 minutes when the incident occurred.
Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service and the National Ambulance Service have now left the scene of the crash
Police said the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) was the lead agency in investigating the fatal incident
However, the scene will remain cordoned off overnight to facilitate the crash investigation.
Acting chief fire officer with Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service Pat Hunt previously said there were “a number of casualties”.
He stressed that every available resource is being diverted to the scene.
Speaking on the Midlands 103 radio station, he said: "Mullingar Fire Brigade and all the units in the station have been mobilised to the scene.
"We understand that it's an incident involving an aircraft, a helicopter, crashing into a building in the Joristown upper townland in Killucan, Co Westmeath.
"At the moment it's a breaking news story, we have all the principal response agencies mobilising to the scene, that would be An Garda Siochana, the ambulance services and ourselves.
"What we can understand is that there are a number of casualties involved but again we can't at this stage confirm the number."
"As this is a live and ongoing operation, no further information is available at this time."
Mayor of Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District Ken Glynn said it was a "shocking and tragic" incident.
He said his thoughts and prayers were with the families of those involved and the emergency services who first responded to the scene.
He told RTE: "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."
Fr Stan Deegan, parish priest of St Brigid's Church in Raharney, told RTÉ News 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," he said.
"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 Air Accident Investigation Unit previously said it had been notified and had deployed a "team of inspectors" to the scene.
Sinn Fein TD for Longford-Westmeath Sorca Clarke said: "I'm devastated for the people involved, it's absolutely horrendous.
"It's terrible news to be hearing. I'm so sorry to hear what's after happening."
