THE GOVERNMENT and Opposition parties have expressed their sympathies in the Dáil on the deaths of the two Air Corps pilots killed on a training flight in Co Mayo.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said that “at its meeting this morning the Government, through the Minister for Defence, conveyed its sincere sympathy to the bereaved families” of Capt Derek Furniss and Cadet David Jevens.

Mr Cowen said “our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time”. While the necessary investigations were under way, “in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, our thoughts are with the families of the deceased”. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who first raised the issue, said he knew “the location where the Pilatus aircraft came down and it is very rugged country. This is a tragedy for their families.”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore expressed his party’s sympathy “to the families and colleagues of both Air Corps pilots involved in the tragedy yesterday evening”.