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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tim Hanlon

Newtownards: Two dead after plane crashes at airport with 'large plumes of smoke' seen

Two people are confirmed to have died after a light aircraft crashed at an airport in Northern Ireland causing large clouds of smoke.

Emergency services rushed to Newtownards Airport, in County Down, following a 999 call at 8.21pm on Tuesday.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended, and said no patients were taken from the scene on the Portaferry Road in the town.

Two people have died and the scene has been closed off by police.

In a statement, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 8.21pm following reports of an incident on the Portaferry Road, Newtownards.

"NIAS despatched two emergency crews, a doctor and an ambulance officer to the incident," it said.

"No patients were taken from the scene."

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesperson said after the crash: "Police and other emergency services are currently in attendance at the scene of a crash involving a light aircraft at Newtownards airport. There are no further details."

Speaking to BelfastLive an eyewitness said that they saw a large amount of smoke and emergency services were continuing to work at the scene.

"The smoke is now gone. There are four or five fire engines from Newtownards and Bangor, two police cars and two ambulances have arrived. Large plumes of black smoke [could be seen] over the terminal building," they stated.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended the crash and said no patients were taken from the scene (Wikipedia)

Another person who saw the incident told the Belfast Telegraph that the plane crashed into some hedges near to the Cloud 9 restaurant at the Ulster Flying Club.

“An ambulance has left the scene, but fire crews are still there,” they said. “Lots of people are gathering round to see what is happening. There’s a police car stationed at the main entrance.”

A police helicopter was also seen flying over the crash site

The NIFRS, after responding to the crash, stated: "We have three pumping appliances at the scene tonight at Newtownards Airport."

Kellie Armstrong, a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford, told the Belfast Telegraph that "it was a fine evening with no fog or obvious weather issues".

She said that people often book flying experiences from the airfield, although the time at which the accident took place means it "wouldn’t be leisure flyers".

DUP politician Peter Weir tweeted: "Terrible news tonight, with two feared dead in a light aircraft crash at Newtownards airfield. Thoughts and prayers with their families in the midst of this tragedy."

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