Another Light Aircraft Down

DOCARCH

From eircom.net

A light aircraft has crash-landed in Limerick in a field near Coonagh Airfield.

There was one person on board, but they are understood to have escaped injury.

Three units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched to the scene.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit is also sending a team to the scene.

highlydebased

From Today's Indo

THE pilot who crash-landed his home-built aircraft in a field used his years of experience as a British Airways pilot to land safely, it has emerged.

Pilot Tony Khan, who is in his early 30s and is from Limerick, is also a listed instructor with Limerick Flying Club, which is based in Coonagh, just a few miles from the city centre.

Members of the club praised his quick-thinking actions when in landed in a field in Limerick on Monday evening and described Mr Khan as a "highly experienced" aviator.

"The aircraft suffered engine failure, but he did the correct thing and managed to land. He used his skill and experience to get out," said an aviation source. Others said they were thankful that this incident had a "fortunate outcome".

In July 2007, the club was devastated by the death of member John Keane, from Clonlara, Co Clare, who died after trying to land during an air show at the Ardfert Summer Festival in Co Kerry.

It is understood Mr Khan, who was flying solo in the single-seater plane, was headed towards Coonagh airstrip when the plane landed in the nearby field at around 4.45pm.

The British-registered aircraft lost power mid-flight after veering close to a residential area. The incident is under review by the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Transport.

Three units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene. Ambulance crews were also alerted, but were not needed as Mr Khan suffered only minor injuries.

Lucky

However, residents in Coonagh fear there it is only a matter of time before there is a serious air crash in the area.

"Our main concern is that when these things go out of control they're liable to land anywhere," said Mick Neville, treasurer of the recently formed Coonagh Residents Committee.

"I think he had a very narrow escape. He was lucky he didn't land on the main road. He missed some cranes by the new bypass by yards," said Mr Neville.

- Anne Sheridan

Flyer1

"Our main concern is that when these things go out of control they're liable to land anywhere," said Mick Neville, treasurer of the recently formed Coonagh Residents Committee. "

Some people would make you sick with what crap they come out with.

jasonb

Yep, a real 'won't somebody think of the children!' comment...

J.

highlydebased

Flyer1 wrote: »

"Our main concern is that when these things go out of control they're liable to land anywhere," said Mick Neville, treasurer of the recently formed Coonagh Residents Committee. "

Some people would make you sick with what crap they come out with.

Unfortunately yes. He makes it seem like its a regular occurance with "when these things go out of control..."

I remember not so long ago the ill-fated EI-CIZ was performing a few manouvers over the field at 5000ish feet (Remember that as I was on shannon towers' frequency at same time..!) and there was a huge write up in the Limerick Post the following week complaining about it saying it was "dangerous" and how "A man nearly crashed his car looking at it fearing it was going to crash". Idiots.