The engine on a light aircraft cut out before it crashed killing two friends, air accident investigators have revealed.

Engine failure is being investigated as the primary cause of a light aircraft crash which killed a flight instructor and a trainee pilot.

Air accident investigators are to examine whether a flight instructor and trainee pilot killed in a light aircraft crash were alerted to a problem shortly after take-off.

Two men were killed after a light aircraft crashed in Co Offaly yesterday, only minutes after take-off.