Man killed in helicopter crash

A MAN was killed in a helicopter crash near Dingle, Co Kerry, last night.

The aircraft crashed into Strickeen Mountain in dense fog at around 7.30pm and burst into flames.

Locals who heard a bang raced to the scene and alerted the emergency services.

The body of a man, who may have been the pilot, was in the burning wreckage and

debris was scattered around a wide area at Lisdargan, Lispole, about two miles from Dingle.

There was no sign of any other bodies or injured people at the scene.

But gardaí, stating that visibility was down to around two hundred metres, would not speculate if other people were on board the ill-fated helicopter.

“We are just hoping that no other people were on board but conditions for a search are very difficult,” said Sgt Mossie O’Donnell, of Dingle.

As darkness fell, the crash site was sealed off and an investigation will be carried out by officials from the Department of Transport. Ambulances and fire brigades from the Dingle area as well as members of the Dingle Cliff and Coast Rescue Service, were at the scene last night.

It is understood the helicopter was on its way to collect some people who were at the races in Tralee.

A search of the crash area will begin at first light today.