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Four bodies found in plane wreck Four bodies found in plane wreck
(about 3 hours later)
Four bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of a light aircraft that crashed on a mountainside in the Irish Republic, gardai have confirmed. Four bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of a light aircraft that crashed on a mountainside in Wicklow in the Irish Republic.
The plane is embedded in the ground and rescuers had to use cutting equipment to gain access.
The Piper PA-28 single engine plane took off from Gloucester on Saturday morning but failed to land at Kilrush in County Kildare at noon.The Piper PA-28 single engine plane took off from Gloucester on Saturday morning but failed to land at Kilrush in County Kildare at noon.
Airport officials said four people were on board the aircraft. Pilot Sharif Booz and his wife Margaret, from Bristol, are understood to have been killed.
Gardai, the Irish Coastguard and Irish Aviation Authority, said the wreckage had been found near Corriebrock mountain. The other victims were said to be his teenage son and the boy's friend.
Family members The plane wreckage was found by mountain rescue personnel
The plane left Gloucestershire Airport at about 1000 BST on Saturday. Garda, the Irish Coastguard and Irish Aviation Authority, said the wreckage had been found in the remote Corriebracks area after a major search of the rugged terrain.
Jurgen Whyte, of the Irish Republic's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU), said the bodies had to be dug out of the plane as its nose was embedded in the ground.
"The four bodies were dug out of the aircraft. They have been flown by helicopter to Naas Hospital," said Mr Whyte.
"The priority was to get the bodies out before dark. We've now also pulled the aircraft out of the bog, about one third of it was embedded underground."
He said it was too early to determine the cause of the crash.
A Garda spokesman said relatives had arrived in Ireland from the UK and that post mortem examinations would be carried out on Monday.
"We are preserving the scene to allow investigations to continue in the morning," he added.
The plane had left Gloucestershire Airport at about 1000 BST on Saturday.
But the last radar sighting was at 1230 BST over the Wicklow mountains, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said.But the last radar sighting was at 1230 BST over the Wicklow mountains, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said.
Dublin air traffic control had monitored the flight before passing it over to Kilrush air traffic control a little over ten minutes before the last sighting. Dublin air traffic control had monitored the flight before passing it over to Kilrush air traffic control a little over 10 minutes before the last sighting.
Concerned relative
But it was not until 1800 BST that a relative of the pilot raised concerns about the plane's whereabouts.But it was not until 1800 BST that a relative of the pilot raised concerns about the plane's whereabouts.
It is understood three of those on board were family members, while the fourth was a friend. Garda, coastguard, defence forces, and up to 40 mountain rescue personnel from Dublin, Wicklow, Tipperary and Northern Ireland began a major search of the rugged terrain at about 0630 GMT on Sunday.
Gardai, the Coastguard, defence forces, and mountain rescue personnel from Dublin, Wicklow, Tipperary and Northern Ireland began a major search of the rugged terrain at about 0630 GMT on Sunday.
It is understood up to 40 mountain rescue personnel were involved in the search, along with about 15 gardai from the north Wicklow town of Bray.
The plane wreckage was found by mountain rescue personnel
The Garda Helicopter and Dublin-based Coastguard helicopter were also called in.The Garda Helicopter and Dublin-based Coastguard helicopter were also called in.
The discovery of the wreckage was made by mountain rescue personnel who, it is understood, were acting on information provided by a hill-walker. The discovery of the wreckage was made by mountain rescue personnel who, it is understood, were acting on information provided by a hillwalker.
According to the operator of Kilrush airfield, Ian Valentine, the pilot had been using the strip for the last six or seven years to visit relatives in the nearby town of Newbridge. According to the operator of Kilrush airfield, Ian Valentine, Mr Booz had been using the strip for the last six or seven years to visit relatives in the nearby town of Newbridge.
He said he received a text message from the pilot - whom he described as experienced and in his mid-40s - earlier in the week but he would normally expect a phone call on the day of the flight. He said he received a text message from Mr Booz - whom he described as experienced and in his mid-40s - earlier in the week but he would normally expect a phone call on the day of the flight.
The Irish Republic's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) confirmed the wreckage was that of the missing aircraft.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AIIB) has begun an investigation.