Cork plane crash: Two passengers 'miraculously' walked out of crashed plane

Two people walked ‘miraculously’ from the scene of today’s crash at Cork Airport, it has emerged.

At a press conference this lunchtime, it was also revealed that a fire at the scene of today’s crash was confined to one of the plane’s engines and did not extend into the cockpit or passenger area of the plane.

County manager Martin Riordan said the plane crashed at 9.52am, emergency services were informed at 9.56am and the county’s area emergency plan was put in place at 10.20am.

He said the fire had been extinguished within minutes and that there had been no issues with lack of equipment. “Emergency services responded very effectively,” he said.

The major emergency plan was stood down at 11.05am.

Mr Riordan expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and said the entire airport was “very saddened” by the incident.

He gave no details of the identities of those killed and injured.

One of crewmates on board the flight was Spanish and one was English. Their condition is not known at this stage.

“Miraculously, two people walked from the wreckage of the plane,” said Superintendant Charlie Barry.

Three people were removed shortly after the crash on stretchers, while emergency crews worked for 40 minutes to cut another from the wreckage.

Of the wounded who were removed from the wreckage, they were predominantly suffering from multiple fractures.

Airport CEO Pat Keohane said the airport would not be operational “for a good period of time”, and until further notice.

An investigation will be conducted by the Irish Aviation Authority and by the aviation unit of the Department of Transport.

The scene of today’s crash was attended by five Cork City fire engines, and by three county engines from Carrigaline, Bandon and Ballincollig. There were around 35 fire services personnel at the scene and around 35 gardai.

The garda traffic corps was also involved in setting up seven cordon points between the airport and Cork University Hospital to allow the speedy transfer of victims to the hospital.

Nine ambulances and three rapid response vehicles attended the scene.