At least one person killed in helicopter crash in Co Kildare

At least one person is believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash in Co Kildare.

The privately owned aircraft came down in a field in Kennycourt, about 6km southeast of Kilcullen, just before 3pm on Sunday.

The scene has been secured by gardaí ahead of an investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU).

There is a large amount of debris scattered around the field. The isolated location of the crash has made it difficult to carry out a preliminary assessment and further work has been suspended until daylight.

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Authorities are still trying to establish how many people were on board.

One local told the Kildare Nationalist the aircraft, described by the AAIU as a “light helicopter” circled a few times before going into a nose-dive.

The AAIU said three of its inspectors have deployed to the site and that the investigation will resume on Monday morning.

“The AAIU has complete and initial survey of the accident site at Brannockstown, Co Kildare and will return in the morning to continue its activities, including an ongoing site survey, witness interviews and the recovery of wreckage to the AAIU wreckage examination facility,” it said in a statement.