High winds caused two parked aircraft to collide at Dublin Airport today shortly before passengers were due to go on board.
The unoccupied Aer Lingus A330 Airbus planes were on a ramp beside the terminal building when a sudden gale dislodged them around 1 p.m. The nose of one aircraft struck the body of the adjacent aircraft under its wing area.
One plane was scheduled to take passengers and depart to New York via Shannon at 1.30 p.m.
"There were no passengers or crew on board the aircraft when the incident occurred," an Aer Lingus spokesman said.
"The aircraft were properly secured in their parking positions at the time."
Airline engineers are currently examining the damage to the aircraft. Up to 600 passengers waiting in the terminal building are expected to experience lengthy flight delays as a result.
Afternoon gales and heavy rain also brought down poles and trees in west Dublin and Co Meath.
A Fire Services spokesman they had responded to dozens of calls reporting structural damage in Dublin, Meath, northeast Kildare and Co Louth. Fallen trees were reported in the Tallaght area of Dublin and according to AA Roadwatch the Luttrellstown Rd at Porterstown Church is closed until further notice because of fallen trees and power lines.
Around 70 houses in three Clonee housing estates in Co Meath were damaged and there are report of slates being torn off roofs during the height of the gales earlier this afternoon.
All Irish Ferries Swift sailings on the Dublin to Holyhead route have been cancelled.
Additional reporting PA