Emergency landing by skydive plane in Co Longford

Air accident investigators will today begin a technical examination of an aircraft which made an emergency landing shortly after take-off in the midlands.

The Cessna 206 light aircraft had taken off from Abbeyshrule aerodrome in Co Longford on Saturday afternoon with five people on board, including the pilot.

A number of those on board were due to take part in parachute jumps, but the plane got into difficulty after it became airborne. It appeared to lose power and the pilot had to make an emergency landing.

He managed to bring the aircraft to the ground in a field just beyond the village of Colehill and about three miles from the aerodrome.

A number of locals were quickly on the scene to lend assistance, but none of the five on board was injured.

There was some damage to the nose of the aircraft.

Investigation unit

Members of the air accident investigation unit arrived shortly after the incident and carried out a preliminary investigation at the field.

They transferred the aircraft to a secure storage facility in Abbeyshrule for transfer to the investigation unit’s centre in Gormanston, Co Meath, where a detailed examination will be carried out today.