Boy, 7, and pilot killed in Ireland plane crash minutes after 16 skydivers jumped out
Witnesses described seeing the plane coming down 'like a torpedo' as rescue efforts were hampered because of the terrain of the crash site
A PILOT and a seven-year-old boy were killed when their light aircraft crashed down into bogland after a parachute jump.
Witnesses recalled seeing the plane coming down "like a torpedo" just after skydivers had made their jump.
The plane was carrying 16 parachutists from the Irish Parachute Club who had jumped from the light aircraft before the horror plunge.
However, the pilot, 47, and the youngster were on board when the aircraft smashed into a bog shortly afterwards.
The horror unfolded just after 2pm on Sunday in an area between Edenderry and Daingean in Co Offaly, Ireland.
Investigators had trouble getting to the scene because of the terrain and it took several hours before they reached the plane, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
It is understood the victims were a visiting pilot from England and the boy was the son of one of the members of the Irish Parachute Club.
The father, who is originally from Poland, but lives in Dublin, was among the group of 16 who jumped prior to the crash.
He attended the crash scene later.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit set up a cordon around the area and digging machinery was needed to remove the aircraft from the bog, as the force of the impact had driven the plane into the ground.
Members of the Civil Defence, Offaly Fire Services and Gardai were involved in the operation to access the plane.
Gardai set up a road block not far from the crash site and a number of people from the surrounding areas attended the scene.
Local man, Jimmy Slattery, who had been out walking his dog near Clonbullogue, heard the plane's engine roar and saw it crash.
He said: "It just came vertically down. There was no wavering in it or anything. When it got near the tree line, I heard a thump then and that was it.
"I thought he was actually doing a stunt and I was waiting for them to pull out but it never happened, sadly."
Mr Slattery said the aircraft came straight down "like a torpedo" from the sky adding: "It was very loud as if it was taking off that sort of a roar."
A garda spokesperson said: "At 2.25pm on Sunday 13th May 2018 an aircraft took off from Clonbullogue Airfield with 16 parachutists on board.
"All 16 made their jump from the craft. However, witnesses then saw the aircraft crash shortly afterwards.
"There were two people on board, the pilot and a seven-year-old boy.
"The plane was later located about two kilometres from the airfield crashed in bog land.";
Local councillor Noel Cribben said nothing like this had happened before and everyone was in complete shock.
He said: "This is a big shock to the area. These flights have been happening for the last 20 years and this is the first time I've heard of a plane going down - it's very worrying."
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Celia Lynch, a member of the local flying community, said her husband friends were flying light aircraft in the area at the time of the crash, but were able to land safely.
A statement on the website of the Irish Parachute Club last night read: "The Irish Parachute Club can confirm there has been an incident involving an aircraft operating on behalf of the Irish Parachute Club.
"At this time the air accident unit are in attendance and further details will be released by the air accident unit in due course."
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