An investigation is under way into the deaths of two people in an aircraft crash in south Connemara yesterday during a flight from the Aran island of Inis Meáin.
Three of the seven others onboard who survived the crash were in a critical condition last night in University College Hospital, Galway. Four were described as having "moderate to serious injuries".
The group of eight businessmen had been en route home in the private aircraft after attending the annual general meeting of the Clifden Airport Company on Inis Meáin.
No names were being released last night until relatives had been informed, but it is understood the pilot and one passenger were killed.
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív expressed his sincere sympathies last night to the bereaved relatives of the two people killed, and said he hoped all those injured would make a speedy recovery.
It is understood that among those on board were Brian Hughes, son of Paul Hughes of the Abbeyglen Hotel in Clifden, builder Martin Acton, and hotelier Kevin Barry and his son. They have associations with the Clifden Airport Company, which sold its ownership of an airstrip site at Cleggan, serving Inishbofin island, to the Government earlier this year.
The Cessna Grand Camper had left Weston aerodrome in Co Kildare yesterday morning to pick up the group at Indreabhán, Co Galway, to fly to Inis Meáin, while a separate group attending the agm flew by a regular Aer Arann flight.
It is understood that the aircraft is owned by a company which estate agent and well known businessman David Courtney of Spain Courtney Doyle, is associated with. The group on board yesterday were considering buying an aircraft of this type.
On returning to Indreabhán from Inis Meáin at about 2.45pm, the fixed-wing aircraft appeared to miss the runway.
It landed, nose first, in gorse and scrubland close to the airport terminal and hangar. Weather conditions were poor, with west to northwesterly winds and bad visibility, and Galway airport had been forced to divert two of its flights to Shannon for this reason yesterday.
Three of the nine on board were able to scramble from the wreckage, and the Health Service Executive West dispatched a mobile medical team from University College Hospital, Galway, along with ambulances from Galway and Carraroe and the Galway Fire Brigade.
Two people were administered the last rites at the scene by local parish priest Fr Colm Ó Ceannabháin.
The Irish Coast Guard's Shannon-based Sikorsky helicopter was involved in rescuing the crew of a yacht which had dismasted off the Aran islands when it got the emergency call. Two Irish Coast Guard helicopters then flew casualties to UCHG. Fire brigade crew sprayed the wreckage with foam as there were fears it might ignite.
Residents living near Aerfort na Minne said they saw nothing but heard a loud bang. Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) officials arrived at the scene by air and road last night to conduct a preliminary examination, and the scene was preserved by gardaí under the direction of Supt Noel Kelly of Salthill Garda station in Galway.
All flights between the Aran islands and Indreabhán were cancelled last night.
Supt Kelly said last night it was a "terrible accident", and a full investigation by the AAIU would establish the circumstances. "I can confirm that all on board are Irish and three of them did manage to walk from the aircraft where they were treated in the terminal building."
Aerfort na Minne is used most frequently by Islander aircraft as part of the Aer Arann fleet serving the three Aran islands.
