RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
Search
07 Sept 2025
Search
07 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Superintendent Martin Walker at the press conference held earlier today
Air accident investigators have confirmed that the wreckage of the light aircraft, in which two males died after it crashed near Moone last night, will be recovered later today.
The men, one aged 70 and the other in his late 50s, were travelling in a BRM NG5 - a two seater, single engine aircraft.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) confirmed it will remove the wreckage from the field later today.
Inspector Howard Hughes said at a press briefing held earlier today that rain has delayed the process.
He added that it was unlikely there was an on board flight recorder on the aircraft because the plane in which they were travelling is not obliged to carry one. Nor was there any communication from the aircraft.
WATCH:
Air accident Investigator Howard Hughes said it is unlikely there was an on board flight recorder as it is not an obligation on a light aircraft pic.twitter.com/vJNF6jq99h
— Leinster Leader (@leinsleadernews) June 14, 2019
Air investigation unit member Howard Hughes speaking on site about the light aircraft crash at Belan pic.twitter.com/Act3iAODxC
— Leinster Leader (@leinsleadernews) June 14, 2019
He said a full report into the incident could take up to 12 months to complete.
Superintendent Martin Walker confirmed at the same press briefing held earlier today that Gardaí were alerted at 1am this morning after the plane failed to return to its base in Kilrush airbase in Kildare.
Gardai immediately contacted the air traffic controllers in both Dublin and Shannon and a location of the craft was found at Belan.
A ground search was carried out, as well as air searches by the Garda Air Support Unit and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116.
The wreckage of the aircraft was later located in a field at Belan at around 4.30am this morning.
He said the identities of the two men who died will not be released until their families have been notified.
Their bodies have been removed to the mortuary at Naas General Hospital.
WATCH ALSO: Garda briefing at the site near the light air crash in Kildare
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
