Irish Republican News · February 10, 2011

Plane crashes at Cork airport

Six people were killed today when a Manx2 regularly scheduled airline flight from Belfast to Cork overturned and caught fire while making a second attempt to land in dense fog.

The small aircraft carrying 12 people, including two crewmembers, crashed on the runway of Cork airport this morning just before 10 o'clock.

The twin turboprop 'Metroliner' plane overturned and burst into flames on a grass verge. Debris was scattered onto the runway and over a wide area.

Six people died and six others were taken with serious injuries to Cork University Hospital, which has activated its major emergency plan. A spokesman for the hospital said the six injured people are all expected to survive.

Cork airport was closed following the crash.

Airports official Eamonn Brennan said the fog in the Cork area at the time and visibility was poor. Winds were light.

"It wouldn't have been anything more than normal circumstances for Cork," he told RTE Radio.

He said the Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Unit would carry out a full investigation of the incident.

President Mary McAleese expressed her deep shock and sadness at hearing the news. "The President said her thoughts and prayers, and those of all the people of Ireland, are with the families of the deceased and the survivors at this very difficult time," a spokeswoman said.

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