BREAKING: Local communities 'in shock' as first photo emerges of helicopter crash in Westmeath

Emergency services remain at the scene of a helicopter crash in Co Westmeath, where the aircraft is understood to have hit a building.

All of the resources of a fatal incident have been committed to the operation as there are fears that two men in the helicopter have been killed.

The incident happened near Killucan, near Joristown, at around 3.30pm.

The area, with a population of a few hundred people, is roughly 15km from Mullingar.

The helicopter had been certified as flightworthy in the last 12 months, and had taken a short successful flight this morning.

Acting Chief Fire Officer with Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service Pat Hunt told Midlands 103 that all available resources are being sent to the scene of the incident.

"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."

Westmeath Sinn Fein Councillor David Jones told Midlands 103 that the community is shocked by the incident.

"It's a small, very close community, so something like this would have a devastating impact on the local areas. I'm sure the local communities are in shock at the moment, and their thoughts are with all involved".

The Air Accident Investigation Unit said in a statement on social media that it has been notified of the incident, which they said involved a "single-engine helicopter".

The AAIU has been notified of an accident involving a single-engine helicopter near Killucan Co. Westmeath this afternoon. The AAIU is deploying a team of inspectors at this time. Further updates will be provided when available.

— AAIU IRELAND (@aaiu_ireland) July 30, 2024

The Mayor of Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District Ken Glynn told RTÉ that the incident was "shocking and tragic".

"I'm surprised and shocked, it's not something you would expect to hear in your own locality."

He added that his thoughts and prayers are with the families of those involved in the incident and the first responders.

"It is a difficult scene for emergency services to be attending," Cllr Glynn said.

FlightRadar, which tracks the paths of planes and helicopters, shows that the helicopter took off from Weston Airport at around 2pm today, and then travelled west towards Maynooth. It circled once north of Kinnegad, before disappearing from tracking data north of Kinnegad, close to Raharney, at 3.24pm.

More to follow...