Probe into aircraft accident under way

THE Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport yesterday began an inquiry into an accident involving a light aircraft at Kerry Airport.

A four-seater plane with two German men on board skidded belly-down as it came in to land on the main runway at the airport at 4pm on Thursday.

The men, in their 50s and said to be experienced pilots, were not injured and spent the night in Killarney.

They met yesterday with officials from the Air Accident Investigation Unit.

The aircraft, which was flying from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, was damaged in the accident and will require repairs before being cleared to fly.

The pilot and his passenger walked from the plane and were standing on the runway when the airport’s emergency services, including fire tenders, arrived at the scene.

“There was no need to call in outside emergency services and we dealt with the incident through our own procedures. There was no smoke, or fire, at the scene,” said an airport spokesman.

Lifting equipment had to be brought in to move the plane off the runway and the airport was closed for an hour.

It is understood the men were members of an aero club in the Munich area. They were on a mini-tour of Britain and Ireland.

Inbound Ryanair flights from Dublin and Stansted had to remain overhead while the runway was cleared. Outbound flights were delayed for an hour.