Boy killed in plane crash after dad’s parachute jump

A seven-year-old boy killed in a light aircraft crash in Co Offaly was the son of a parachutist who made a scheduled jump just minutes earlier.

A total of 16 parachutists made jumps from the plane before it came down in bog land on Sunday afternoon, killing the little boy and the experienced pilot.

The pilot, who was from the UK, had been hired by the Irish Parachute Club since their own plane was being serviced.

Local councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick said: “He was a very competent and experienced pilot.”

The aircraft had taken off from Clonbullogue airfield, which is popular with skydivers, at around 2.25pm.

The crash happened a few kilometres away near Edenderry.

A Garda spokesman said witnesses saw the 16 parachutists make their jumps.

“However, they then saw the aircraft crash shortly afterwards. There were two people on board, the pilot and a seven-year-old boy,” he added.

The bodies were recovered from the wreckage on Sunday night and taken for post-mortem examinations to the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

Another Offaly councillor Noel Cribbin said: “This is a big shock to the area.

“These flights have been happening for the last 20 years and this is the first time I’ve heard of a plane going down.”