One body found in Wicklow plane wreckage
Gardaí have confirmed one body has been discovered in the wreckage of a UK-registered light aircraft in the Wicklow mountains.
Superintendent Michael Lernihan, search co-ordinator, said: “What we can say is that we have discovered one body in the rear of the plane.”
Supt Lernihan said he could not at this stage confirm any details, including gender or age.
The plane is embedded in the ground near Corriebrock mountain, west Co Wicklow, and rescuers are having to use cutting equipment to gain access.
“It crashed and the nose and front part is embedded in the ground,” Supt Lernihan added. “It (the plane) has to be dug out.”
The Piper PA-28 single engine plane left Gloucester in England shortly before 10am yesterday for Kilrush airfield in Co Kildare with four people on board.
Relatives confirmed the pilot was Sharif Booz, a property developer, but would not confirm with whom he was travelling.
Speaking from the family home in Church View, Almondsbury in England, Mr Booz’s nephew, who asked not to be named, said he and his grandparents were anxiously waiting to find out what had happened.
A neighbour, who also asked not to be named, said Mr Booz was a father-of-two who flew regularly.
