Powerscourt owner critically ill after plane crash

The owner of the Powerscourt estate in Wicklow is in a critical condition in hospital following a plane crash yesterday in which another man died.

The light aircraft crashed on the private airstrip in the estate yesterday afternoon.

At 3.10pm yesterday, the single-engine plane carrying the men attempted to land on a private airstrip at the Powerscourt estate near Enniskerry.

It is believed the pilot aborted his landing attempt and tried to take off again. The wing of the plane is then thought to have struck a tree, causing it to crash.

A 66-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to Loughlinstown hospital. A post mortem will be carried out there on Monday

Michael Slazenger, the 69-year-old owner of Powerscourt Estate, was brought to Tallaght Hospital and later transferred to St James' Hospital, where he is said to be in a critical condition.

An inquiry is being carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Unit.