A helicopter has crashed in a field in the Kilcullen area of County Kildare in the Republic of Ireland.
Emergency services are at the scene and gardaí (Irish police) have cordoned off the area.
There is no confirmation of how many people were on board.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) was notified and three of its inspectors are on their way to the scene.
In a statement, the Department of Transport said: “The AAIU has been notified of an occurrence involving a light helicopter approximately 6km south east of Kilcullen, County Kildare.
There are unconfirmed reports of a casualty.
Local resident Peter ‘Mac’ Sully was working in his yard at the time and said that he heard the aircraft and saw that it was coming from the south. “It seemed to have been coming from the Kilgowan direction,” he said. “Then it circled a few times, and then I saw it nose-dive.”
The crash scene is in a field near Kennycourt Lodge, where a house has been under refurbishment.
Brannockstown resident John Bradysaid that he heard the aircraft passing overhead a short time earlier.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said: “The AAIU has been notified of an occurrence involving a light helicopter approximately 6km south-east of Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
