Updated 8.55pm
FOOTAGE HAS EMERGED showing the incident last night where a helicopter that crashed into a pub in Longford.
The incident took place at roughly 9.15pm in Abbeyshrule.
Gardaí said this evening that a man has been arrested in connection with the crash. The man, who is in his early 60s, was arrested this evening in Dublin. He is currently being detained in Longford garda station.
The video above shows the helicopter hovering above the ground, before the tail spins and strikes The Rustin Inn.
Another video, shot by Sine Quinlan, shows the helicopter hovering above the Royal Canal.
Images posted online show the helicopter lying on its side, and structural damage to pub.
A spokesperson from the Department of Transport said two members of the Air Accident Investigation Unit Go-Team attended the scene.
The investigation is at a very early stage, and inspectors are focusing on gathering evidence.
A statement said the helicopter is a Gazelle Helicopter, registration G-BXTH.
“The AAIU investigation team is conducting further on-site operations which will involve undertaking recording of the accident site and initial information gathering activities into the circumstances surrounding yesterdays occurrence,” it continued.
Shannonside radio reports there were some injuries inside the pub, but the two people in the helicopter were uninjured.
There are no serious injuries reported.
Ciaran Doyle (14) who witnessed the crash told RTE’s Morning Ireland said he was working with his father when they noticed the helicopter flying very low.
“It was hovering over the canal, and onto the banks of the canal, for about five minutes. We were watching it, and it started to come in close to the Rustic [Inn pub], and it started moving towards the back,” he explained.
It swung around, and hit off the back of the Rustic.
“The minute I saw it, my hands started to shake, and I picked up the phone and called the emergency services.”
“The propellers did most of the damage to the building itself.”
Originally published 6.52am
- Additional reporting Aoife Barry
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