A light aircraft has crashed near Waterford Airport, prompting a swift response from a 25-person emergency team. The incident occurred after the pilot declared a mid-air emergency while flying with three passengers on board. Witnesses reported that the aircraft was losing altitude rapidly and was unable to reach the runway. The plane, believed to be a Vulcanair, was on a flight path to Béziers in France when the emergency was declared approximately 100 miles off the south-east coast of Ireland. As the aircraft turned back towards Waterford, it began descending sharply. Despite efforts to land on the airport's relatively long runway, it ultimately crashed into a field near Tramore, Co. Waterford. The aircraft sustained severe damage in the crash, and an air accident investigation has been initiated by the Department of Transport. The investigation will be conducted by the Department's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU), with assistance from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). A spokesperson for the IAA confirmed their awareness of the incident, stating, "The Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport (AAIU) is investigating the incident with the relevant emergency services. The AAIU is responsible for investigating accidents and serious incidents as defined in ICAO Annex 13 and associated implementing regulations." Gardaí also confirmed their presence at the scene, stating, "Gardaí and emergency services are currently at the scene of a collision involving a light aircraft at a location near Tramore, Co. Waterford, which occurred at approximately 12:50pm this afternoon, Thursday 20th November 2025. As this is a live and ongoing operation, no further information is available at this time." The investigation is expected to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the crash as authorities work to determine the cause of the emergency.