Glider pilot dies after crashing in field

A man died when his glider crashlanded in a field close to Kilkenny airport yesterday.

The single-seater glider came down in a field close to the airstrip at Holdensrath, about two miles outside Kilkenny city, after 5.30pm.

It is believed that the man was an experienced pilot in his late 70s and is well known in Kilkenny.

Gardaí said last night he was not being named as efforts were still under way to inform members of his family, some of whom are believed to be abroad. His body was taken to St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, where a postmortem was due to be held.

Killian Hennessy, the assistant chief fire officer for Co Kilkenny, said he was alerted to the incident at 5.46pm. Two brigades from the Kilkenny Fire Rescue Service, an ambulance crew, a doctor from the emergency CareDoc service and gardaí went to the airport.

They began a search of the area and shortly afterwards found the glider in a field where cattle were grazing, adjacent to the airport.

Last night, the area was cordoned off and inspectors from the Civil Aviation Authority were on their way to Kilkenny to begin an investigation. Weather conditions in the county were excellent yesterday with clear blue skies and sunshine.

Kilkenny airport is home to a local flying club and is also used by private aircraft and for air taxi service. It is not used for commercial passenger aviation.