Two members of the Ulster Flying Club were killed in a light aircraft crash, the organisation has confirmed.
Police remained at Newtownards Airport today following confirmation of the deaths last night. The two deceased are not believed to be from Northern Ireland and were members of the Ulster Flying Club.
Experts told Q Radio that the crash was caused by a likely mechanical failure in the RV8 aircraft.
The aircraft narrowly missed an airport building.
In a statement the club expressed “great sadness and regret” at the death of two of its members.
“The incident is being investigated now by specialist investigators from the PSNI and the Air Accident Investigation Branch of the CAA.
“Whilst those investigations are ongoing, we can release no further information or details,” they said.
“Our thoughts at this most terrible time are with the families and friends of the two people involved.”
Alliance Party councillor Vicky Moore lives near the airport and visited the scene following the crash on Tuesday evening.
She said: “It is a huge shock to the community and obviously all our thoughts are with the families of those who have been affected and particularly those that have died in the accident.
“Really the airport here in Newtownards is part of the community, it is very busy, it has been a fixture in the town for a very, very long time.
“Local people are used to the activity at the airport and this will be a terrible shock to them.”
She added: “I live under the flight path, probably about 10-15 minutes’ walk away.
“I was at the scene last night. Police were preventing anyone from getting access to the airport but you could see that a number of emergency vehicles were there.
“This is a very rare occurrence bearing in mind the amount of activity there is at the airport.
“It is mostly flying schools who use it, pleasure flying, small, independent and private aircraft use it.
“The airfield is so popular, it is not expected that something like this would happen.”
Ulster Unionist MLA for Strangford, Mike Nesbitt, said:
“The Ards airfield is a fixture of the town, situated right on the edge of the urbanisation, not miles and miles from the town centre. So, on a daily basis we are all used to seeing light aircraft and helicopters overhead.
“This is above all a human tragedy and our thoughts are with the family members and friends who have lost loved ones.”
Emergency services rushed to the scene following a 999 call on Tuesday evening.
A PSNI spokesman said: “It was reported to police at 8.20pm that a light aircraft had crashed at the airport.
“Officers and other emergency services attended the scene.
“Sadly, two people were pronounced dead.”
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended, and said no patients were taken from the scene on the Portaferry Road in the town.
A statement said: “NIAS despatched two emergency crews, a doctor and an ambulance officer to the incident.
“No patients were taken from the scene.”
