Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MYSTERY OF CESSNA 208B
Tributes to pilot and boy, 7, killed in parachuting event
MYSTERY surrounds the cause of an air crash that killed a young boy and the pilot during a parachuting event.
Air Accident Investigators and emergency services yesterday continued their efforts to dig out the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft from bogland near Clonbullogue in Co Offaly.
The plane plummeted to the ground just moments after 16 people leapt above the Irish Parachute Club aerodrome on Sunday afternoon.
It fell to the ground with no radio contact and the seven-year-old boy, named locally as Kacper Kacprzak, was killed along with the pilot.
Kacper was from a Polish background and his father Krysztof was a member of the club.
Moments before the crash he had jumped from the aircraft.
A source said: “Everyone is just totally shocked by the crash.
“Kacper was a lovely little lad and would be at the club on a regular basis. He would wear a flying suit – he loved planes. His dad is well known as Kris and is heavily involved in parachuting.
“He had just jumped and his son was along as a passenger with the pilot.
“The family live in Blanchardstown in Dublin and are in a deeply distressed state.”
Members of the club refused to comment when contacted by the Daily Mirror and a number of people stated they were told not to speak about the crash.
The club also shut down its website and Facebook pages. An Irish Parachute Club statement said: “The board of directors, members and friends of the Irish Parachute Club are deeply saddened at the death of the occupants of the aircraft that was operating on behalf of the club.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected.
“We would like to thank the Air Accident Investigation Unit and the Emergency Services who are continuing their investigation at this very difficult time.” Offaly County Council chairman Liam Quinn spoke at the scene and said local residents were devastated.
He added: “It is a very black day for Co Offaly.
“When we got the news we didn’t realise how bad it was.
“The loss of the life of a young boy is particularly tragic.
“It is extremely sad and there is a primary school without a student this morning which is going to be particularly sad for the students there.”
Sources yesterday said the aircraft was buried deep into the ground and the emergency services had difficulty in extracting it from the bogland.
A statement from the Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit said: “The AAIU deployed three inspectors on being notified of the accident on 13 May 2018.
“The AAIU team returned to the accident site this morning at 08.00 hrs to complete a site survey and co-ordinate removal of the aircraft wreckage.
“The aircraft wreckage will be brought to the AAIU facility at Gormanston Military Camp for further technical examination later today.” The plane has a long history and had been registered as N208AY.
It was built in 2005 and had been operated by Aeroland Airways in Greece until 2008.
It was registered in 2017 and had been flying with Sky Dive South Coast from Old Sarum Aerodrome near the
CO OFFALY YESTERDAY
city of Salisbury. Meanwhile, a Gofundme page has been set up to help the family of Kacper and has so far raised £9,000.
It reads: “After this sad news yesterday of Billy and Kacper this is a sad time for us all but I think us skydiving family and the wider community should come together and help support them.
I myself have a son the same age as Kacper who loves planes, having met him at the club he was such a beautiful boy who would touch anyone’s heart.
“Please everyone lets support their family at this tragic time.
“Every bit counts so no amount is too small or no amount is too big. Lets show this family what they mean to us all.
“Please share this go fund page with all you family and friends.”