Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MIRACLE ESCAPE FROM PLANE CRASH
Pilot and passenger cheat death after light aircraft plunges into forest
A MAN and a woman cheated death after their plane plunged into trees yesterday. The light aircraft pilot and passenger were described as “walking wounded”. The plane plummeted into Castlewellan Forest Park, Co Down, shortly after 5pm.
It seems likely that the trees cushioned the force of the impact SOURCE CASTLEWELLAN YESTERDAY
TWO people had a miracle escape when their aeroplane crashed into trees yesterday. A man and a woman suffered injuries as the light aircraft plummeted into Castlewellan Forest Park in Co Down shortly after 5pm. Their wounds are not believed to be life-threatening but it is thought they needed some medical treatment. An emergency call was made to the Fire Service who were tasked to attend the scene which was still busy with families at the end of the Bank Holiday weekend. Six fire appliances and several police and ambulance crews responded to the incident. A source said: “It was unclear when the initial call came in, if an aircraft had actually come down or old wreckage had been found which may have been left after an earlier training exercise. “Six appliances were sent to rendezvous at the main entrance to the park on Castelewellan’s Main Street and the call was treated as a live emergency. “As they got into position, it became clear that an aircraft had indeed come down with a pilot and one passenger on board. “News came through that the two people who had been in the plane had managed to escape the wreckage and were evacuating the area. “It appears it crashed into an area densely packed with trees. “It seems likely that the trees may have cushioned the force of the impact as the plane came down. “The survivors are injured but their wounds are not life-threatening They are described as walking wounded. “They will be assessed at the scene and a decision made then about further, if any treatment is required. “A safety investigation will be set up to establish to how this happened. “It is very fortunate that the two people on board survived with only injuries. It could obviously have been a lot worse.” A spokesman for the PSNI said: “Police and the emergency services are in attendance at the scene of a light aircraft crash in the vicinity of Castlewellan Forest Park.”