Emergency services and the garda helicopter have located a small plane which crashed in Co Offaly this evening.
There were two men on board the plane when it crashed some 3km from Birr earlier today.
The condition of the plane’s occupants is unknown at this stage.
Gardaí were notified at about 4.50pm today that all contact had been lost between Air Traffic Control and the aircraft.
A search began at 6.30pm with the assistance of the Garda air support and other emergency services
The wreckage of a Cessna Light Training aircraft was discovered at Clonkelly Upper, Birr, Co Offaly.
A Garda spokesman was unable to confirm whether those on board were injured or give details of their well being.
“It’s a dark evening and the emergency services have important work to do,” said the spokesman.
“We hope to know more later this evening.”
It is understood the site of the wreckage is near an airfield used by light aircraft.
"The plane may have been trying to land in the nearby airfield," the spokesman added.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit (Dept of Transport) have been notified.
Additional reporting: PA