Emergency services remain at the scene
15:59, 20 Nov 2025
Emergency services at the scene(Image: WLR)
One person has been killed in a plane crash near Waterford Airport after a light aircraft declared an emergency off the south-east coast. The plane crashed in a field near the R685 road just a short distance from the airport, and it’s understood that the deceased was the only person on board at the time.
The light aircraft, a privately-owned Vulcanair P68C, was approximately 50km off the coast when it declared an emergency and turned back towards Waterford Airport. The plane was travelling at an altitude of over 11,000 feet and began rapidly descending after turning back towards land.
Emergency services are still at the scene this afternoon, and the road remains closed following the incident. Inspectors from the Department of Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIA) are on site, and a formal probe into the incident has been launched.
A spokesperson for the AAIA said: “The AAIU has been notified of an accident involving a twin-engined general aviation aircraft in the vicinity of Lisselan, Co. Waterford, this afternoon. The AAIU is deploying a team of four inspectors of air accidents to the accident site to commence an investigation.”
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) confirmed that it would be assisting the AAIU in conducting the investigation. The plane was heading from Sligo to Béziers in France when it got into difficulty over the Celtic Sea.
Gardaí remain at the scene, and motorists should avoid the area if possible. A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí and emergency services are currently at the scene of a collision involving a light aircraft at a location near Tramore, Co. Waterford, which occurred at approximately 12:50 pm this afternoon, Thursday 20th November 2025.
“As this is a live and ongoing operation, no further information is available at this time.”
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