Police have confirmed two people have died following a crash involving a light aircraft in Co Down.
Emergency services went to Newtownards airport 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.”
Alliance Party councillor Victoria Moore said the incident is a terrible shock to the community. “As somebody who lives very locally – just under the flight path of the airfield – I know how busy it is,” she told the BBC.
“It is mostly flying schools who use it; pleasure flying, small, independent and private aircraft use it.,” Ms Moore said.
“This will be a terrible shock to the community and very sad news for the families affected. The airfield is so popular, it is not expected that something like this would happen.”
Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt said: “The 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.”
— PA