'Several casualties' confirmed following helicopter crash in Westmeath
The crash occurred this afternoon in Killucan in Joristown when a helicopter struck a building, killing several people.
A number of people have died in a helicopter crash in Westmeath.
The incident took place this afternoon in Killucan in Joristown when a helicopter struck a building.
Emergency services were informed of the crash at 3.30pm this afternoon, and remain at the scene.
It's understood there have been a number of fatalities, although it is unclear how many as of yet.
Acting Chief Fire Officer with Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service Pat Hunt told Midlands 103 that all available resources are being sent to the scene of the incident.
"We understand that it's an incident involving an aircraft, a helicopter, crashing into a building in the Joristown upper townland in Killucan, Co Westmeath.
"At the moment it's a breaking news story, we have all the principal response agencies mobilising to the scene, that would be An Garda Siochana, the ambulance services and ourselves."
The Air Accident Investigation Unit said in a statement on social media that it has been notified of the incident, which they said involved a "single-engine helicopter".
The Mayor of Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District Ken Glynn told RTÉ that the incident was "shocking and tragic".
"I'm surprised and shocked, it's not something you would expect to hear in your own locality."
He added that his thoughts and prayers are with the families of those involved in the incident and the first responders.
"It is a difficult scene for emergency services to be attending," Cllr Glynn said.
FlightRadar, which tracks the paths of planes and helicopters, shows that the helicopter took off from Weston Airport at around 2pm today, and then travelled west towards Maynooth. It circled once north of Kinnegad, before disappearing from tracking data north of Kinnegad, close to Raharney, at 3.24pm.
Gardaí said in a statement that they are currently at the scene of the incident, which they described as "a live and ongoing operation".
They added that no further information is available at this time.
More to follow...