Instructor and student killed as light aircraft plunges to ground

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

Just after 4.30pm emergency services received a call from a member of the public who had spotted that a small plane from the Ormand Flying Club was descending rapidly towards the ground.

Gardaí confirmed that at 4.50pm they were informed all contact had been lost between air traffic control and the aircraft.