Emergency services in Ireland are responding to a helicopter crash in County Westmeath, which claimed the lives of two men.
Irish police said the incident happened near Killucan at approximately 3.30pm on Tuesday.
One of the men who died was from Ireland and the other is understood to be from eastern Europe, the Garda said.
Both were on board the helicopter when it crashed into the farm building. They were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies have now been taken to Regional Hospital Mullingar where post-mortem examinations will be arranged.
The local coroner has been notified of the deaths. Gardai are liaising with the family of the Irish man who died.
Officers are still working to establish contact with the next of kin of the second man and may request the assistance of Interpol.
Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service and the National Ambulance Service have now left the scene of the crash.
Gardai said the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) was the lead agency in investigating the fatal incident.
The scene will remain cordoned off overnight to facilitate the crash investigation.
Speaking on the Midlands 103 radio station earlier, acting chief fire officer with Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service Pat Hunt said: “We understand that it’s an incident involving a helicopter crashing into a building in the Joristown Upper townland in Killucan, Co Westmeath.”
He added: “All the principal response agencies are mobilising to the scene: An Garda Siochana, the ambulance service and ourselves.
The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit said it had deployed a team of inspectors to the site of the single-engine helicopter crash.
“The AAIU has been notified of an accident involving a single-engine helicopter near Killucan, Co Westmeath, this afternoon,” the body said.
“The AAIU is deploying a team of inspectors at this time. Further updates will be provided when available.”
Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTÉ News, Ken Glynn, Mayor of Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District said the episode was “shocking and tragic”.
Mr Glynn told the broadcaster: “I’m surprised and shocked, it’s not something you would expect to hear in your own locality.”
He said his thoughts and prayers were with those connected to those involved in the tragedy and with the emergency services.
“It is a difficult scene for emergency services to be attending,” he noted.
Fr Stan Deegan, St Brigid’s Church in Raharney’s parish priest, told the same news outlet he was “shocked to hear the news”.
“Whoever the people are who are involved in the incident, and wherever they are from, I hope and pray that life will be spared,” he said.
“It is a serious event, and you would worry for the families involved. The local community is a very hospitable one, with a good community spirit, and the people here would respond to local needs.”
