Investigators are preparing to interview witnesses to a fatal plane crash in Co. Offaly.
2 men died when the Cessna aircraft came down in the Clonkelly area close to Birr Airfield just before 5pm yesterday evening.
The victims have been named locally as instructor Niall Doherty from Roscrea in Co. Tipperary who is believed to have been in aged his 20s and 31-year-old student Damien Deegan from Crinkle in Co. Offaly.
Separate investigations have been launched into the crash by Gardai and the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU).
Post-mortems will also be carried out on the bodies of the two men today.
Lost radio control
Both were pronounced dead at the scene when the Light Training Aircraft crashed in a field.
The alarm was raised when the plane lost radio contact with Air Traffic Control.
Jurgen White is the Chief Inspector with the AAIU and says they will be investigating whether the 44-year-old aircraft suffered any mechanical problems in the lead up to the crash.
He spoke with Breakfast here on Newstalk.
