By Dan Walsh
There is general relief tonight at the news that all occupants aboard a light aircraft with a pilot and three passengers on board that crash landed on the beach near Carnsore Point are reported to have ‘non-life threatening’ injuries. The crash landing occurred at around 5.10pm.
Four people – two men in 20’s and 50’s and two women, both aged in their 30’s was removed to University Hospital Waterford by both Health Service Executive (HSE) ambulances and the Waterford and Dublin-based Coast Guard helicopters.
Latest information is that their injuries are ‘non-life threating’. WexfordLocal.com has been informed that the pilot suffered two broken legs and the front seat passenger also has a broken leg. The rear seat occupants walked from the ambulance to the hospital shocked from their ordeal, but suffered no significant injuries.
It is understood that the pilot alerted the Irish Coast Guard before deciding to attempt an emergency landing on the beach at Carnsore Point, south of Rosslare Harbour.
Emergency services responded immediately, and the evacuation was supported by Gardaí, Wexford Coast Guard units and HSE paramedics.
The twin-engine aircraft appears to have experienced technical difficulties off the coast of south Wexford and the pilot showed excellent skills by bringing it down on the beach and avoided crash landing in the sea. Emergency workers at the scene say that if the plane had landed in the sea the rescue efforts would have been far more challenging.
Weather conditions good at the time with light winds and excellent visibility.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit and the Irish Aviation Authority have been notified.
WexfordLocal.com 