A search operation for three missing Irish Coast Guard crew members will continue overnight following a helicopter crash off the coast of Co Mayo early this morning, in which Captain Dara Fitzpatrick died.

A major sea search is being carried out around 10km west of Blacksod, Co Mayo

Rescue 116 with four crew on board lost contact around 1am.

Capt Fitzpatrick was transferred to Mayo University Hospital after being recovered from the water in a critical condition by an RNLI lifeboat crew, but was later pronounced dead.

The three other crew on board have been named as Chief Pilot Mark Duffy and winchmen Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith.

Search and Rescue operations manager with the Irish Coast Guard Gerard O'Flynn said the surface search is likely to continue overnight, but the air search will be scaled down until first light tomorrow.

The Marine Institute's research vessel, RV Celtic Voyager, has joined the search operation. It is equipped with multi-beam radar, normally used for mapping the seabed.

Rescue 116 was providing cover for another Coast Guard helicopter on a mission at the time of the crash.

Captain Fitzpatrick was a senior pilot with the Coast Guard and had over 20 years' experience.

Tributes paid to experienced search and rescue pilot Captain Dara Fitzpatrick pic.twitter.com/HjXmXQp7ll — RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 14, 2017

Mr O'Flynn said the news of her death was a hammer blow to the emergency services.

The mother of a young son, Capt Fitzpatrick was a well-known member of the Coast Guard service and was also involved in several water safety campaigns.

She was recognised with honours for her bravery and earned a place in the aviation history books.

Just three years ago, she was one of two female Coast Guard pilots who carried out the first all-woman mission for the service.

The pair flew a cardiac patient from west Co Cork to Cork University Hospital before transferring a critically-ill five-year-old child from the hospital to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin.

She was known for her starring role in Rescue 117, a fly-on-the-wall documentary series on RTÉ, given behind the scenes access to the helicopter search and rescue service. She had also spent a year long stint in Aberdeen flying onto oil rigs.

As well as her son, she is survived by three sisters, a brother and her parents.

Mr Flynn said there was no prior warning before Rescue 116 went missing.

He said there has been no indication about what happened, and that the Air Accident Investigation Unit will be conducting a full investigation into the incident.



"This was a shock, the helicopter just simply disappeared. Communications was lost. Once communications was lost, an emergency procedure was initiated, a search was immediately initiated. But it was just a sudden break in communication and there was no prior warning of any particular problem," he said.

Gerard O'Flynn, Search and Rescue Operations Manager, Irish Coast Guard says there was 'no prior warning' before ICG helicopter went missing pic.twitter.com/4GefgRoNxQ — RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 14, 2017

'Dark day' for Irish Coast Guard - President

Finding missing helicopter's black box 'crucial'

In Pictures: Coast Guard helicopter lost off Mayo coast

Rescue personnel say small amounts of debris have been found on the sea surface. It is understood that a fuel tank from the missing helicopter may have been located.

LÉ Róisín joined the search

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Director of the Irish Coast Guard Eugene Clonan said that while the search for three missing crew members continues, hopes of finding them are fading.

He said the last communication with Rescue 116 was at 12.45am when it said it was approaching Blacksod to refuel (after providing support to Rescue 118) and there was no indication of any problem.

When Rescue 116 failed to respond after a communications search, a search began.

The first search and rescue unit on scene was Rescue 118 from Sligo, and that crew discovered debris on the surface of the water about 1.5 nautical miles southeast of Blackrock lighthouse, around six nautical miles off the coast from Blacksod.

Mr Clonan said visibility last night "wasn't too good" but suitable for carrying out the operation.

He said Rescue 116 is a very new aircraft, a Sikorsky S92, and has had regular maintenance checks.

Search and rescue helicopters from Sligo and Shannon are involved in the search, along with an Air Corps plane, lifeboats from Ballyglass and Achill and five local fishing boats.

In a statement earlier this morning, the Coast Guard said the Sligo-based Rescue 118 helicopter completed an evacuation of a crewman requiring urgent medical attention from a UK-registered fishing vessel 150 nautical miles west of Eagle Island in Co Mayo early this morning.

"Owing to the distance involved, safety and communication support, known as top cover, was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin-based Rescue 116," the statement said.

Blacksod is on the Atlantic coast in northwestern Mayo

The S92 helicopter is one of four in operation around the Irish coast, with a fifth kept in reserve.

AAIU chief aeronautical officer Jurgen Whyte said investigators were en route within an hour of the incident. They have since arrived on the scene.

Speaking at a news conference this morning, he said the immediate priority is the search and rescue effort, then the collection of debris and to recover the flight recorders.

Jurgen Whyte, Chief Aeronautical of AAI Unit: Search & rescue effort is priority, then collection of debris and recovery of flight records pic.twitter.com/aj2VpGdxrN — RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 14, 2017

Mr Conlan said today was "a dark day for the Coast Guard and rescue services."</s>A Irish coastguard helicopter has gone missing off the west coast of Ireland with four crew members on board. A search is underway six miles to the west of Black Sod in County Mayo to find Rescue 116.

One of the four crew members has been found among debris in a critical condition, according to the BBC. The search party reportedly includes helicopters and local fishing boats.

The Dublin-based crew lost contact at approximately 1am today (14 March). They had been providing cover for another coastguard helicopter – Rescue 118 – that had attended an emergency 150 miles off the Irish coast, the Irish Times reports.

Declan Geoghegan from the Irish Coast Guard told the BBC: "We don't know what happened and obviously there will be an air accident investigation into it. We'll continue to search for the missing crew members until such time as we have recovered them and the flight recorder."

An earlier statement from an Irish Coast Guard spokesman said: "The Sligo-based Coast Guard helicopter R118 completed an early morning medical evacuation (medevac) of a crewman requiring urgent medical attention from a UK-registered fishing vessel approximately 150 miles west of Eagle Island in County Mayo.

"Owing to the distance involved safety and communication support, known as Top Cover, was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin based R116."

"At approximately 1am contact was lost with one of our SAR Helicopters. A major sea search is ongoing off the County Mayo coast approximately six miles west of Blacksod.

"The search operation is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head. Both helicopters refuelled at Blacksod prior to transiting to the scene."</s>A search is under way for an Irish Coast Guard helicopter that went missing while helping evacuate a man from a fishing boat.

Contact was lost at around 1am this morning while it was supporting another helicopter called out for a medical evacuation 150 miles west of County Mayo.

Two more helicopters – from Sligo and Shannon, as well an Irish Air Corps plane, are now hunting for the Dublin-based aircraft.

Five local fishing boats and lifeboats from Ballyglass and Achill are also involved in the search six miles west of Blacksod.

(c) Sky News 2017: Coast Guard helicopter missing off west coast of Ireland</s>One person has been recovered in the search for a missing Irish Coast Guard helicopter with four crew on board.

Emergency services lost contact with Rescue 116 between 1am and 1.30am.

A major search and rescue operation is under way, with one crew member having been recovered ‘in a critical condition’.

The Dublin-based aircraft was providing cover for another helicopter, Rescue 118, which was involved in an early morning rescue operation.

A spokesman for the Coast Guard said: “The Sligo-based Coast Guard helicopter R118 completed an early morning medical evacuation of a crewman requiring urgent medical attention from a UK registered fishing vessel approximately 150 miles west of Eagle Island in County Mayo.

“Owing to the distance involved safety and communication support was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin based R116.

“At approximately 1am contact was lost with one of our Helicopters.”

A major sea search is ongoing off the Co Mayo coast - around six miles west of Blacksod.

Coast Guard helicopters from Sligo and Shannon along with the Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft Casa are involved.

They have been joined by lifeboats from Ballyglass and Achill and five local fishing vessels.

A Coast Guard spokesman said the missing helicopter had been providing cover in the evacuation of a crewman requiring urgent medical attention from a UK-registered fishing boat approximately 150 miles west of Eagle Island in Co Mayo.

“Owing to the distance involved, safety and communication support, known as Top Cover, was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin based R116,” he said.

“The search operation is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head.

“Both helicopters refuelled at Blacksod prior to transiting to the scene.”</s>A woman crew member from the Irish Coast Guard helicopter missing off the west of Ireland, who was pulled from the Atlantic but died, has been named as Captain Dara Fitzpatrick.

She was 45 and had been with the search and rescue service for more than 20 years.

Mark Abbey, regional director for CHC, the company which operates the helicopters for the Coast Guard, said: “It is with deepest regret that we can confirm that Captain Dara Fitzpatrick passed away following today’s accident off the coast of County Mayo in the early hours of this morning.

“We are devastated by this morning’s tragic accident. Our thoughts are with Dara’s family and friends, as well as those of the three crew who are still missing.

Hopes are fading for the survival of the other three crew members, who have yet to be found, acting head of Coast Guard Eugene Clonan said.

An intense search is continuing around six miles (10km) west of Blacksod, Co Mayo, where the Dublin-based Sikorsky S92 disappeared after providing cover for another helicopter involved in an early-morning rescue operation.

The aircraft lost contact at around 12.45am on Tuesday just before it was about to land to refuel, giving no indication of anything wrong.

Capt Fitzpatrick was one of two female Coast Guard pilots who made Irish aviation history three years ago by flying the first all-woman mission for the service.

The pair flew a cardiac patient from west Co Cork to Cork University Hospital before transferring a critically-ill five-year-old child from the hospital to Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

Enda Kenny has said his thoughts are with the families of the brave crew of the Coast Guard helicopter which vanished off the Irish coast.

Speaking from the US, where he is to meet President Donald Trump at the White House, the Taoiseach was being kept up to date with developments off Blacksod, which is in his Mayo constituency.

“The Taoiseach is being briefed regularly here in the US on the Coast Guard helicopter accident that has taken place off the coast of Mayo,” his spokesman said.

“His thoughts are with the families of the brave crew and with the emergency crews currently working in the area.”

Transport Minister Shane Ross said he was deeply concerned about the incident and offered his support and sympathies for all those involved, “particularly those family members who are awaiting news of their loved ones”.

“This is an extremely difficult time for all concerned,” he added.

Sinn Fein fisheries spokesman Martin Ferris paid tribute to the “selfless service” of the Coast Guard in saving countless lives.

“The rescue helicopters are a welcome sight, not just on the deck of a boat in trouble, but also to those injured and stranded on Ireland’s mountains,” he said.

“This has been a painful year for the Coast Guard, having lost their comrade Caitriona Lucas last September.”</s>The Irish Coast Guard have confirmed that there has been an incident involving one of its Search and Rescue (SAR) Helicopters off the west coast of Ireland.

At approximately 1am contact was lost with one of the coast guard’s SAR Helicopters.

RTE, Ireland’s national public-service media organisation, reports that one member of the crew of the Rescue 116 Coast Guard helicopter has been located in a critical condition, while the search for the other three members continues.

In a statement, the Irish Coast Guard said: ‘A major sea search is ongoing off the county Mayo coast approximately six miles west of Blacksod. SAR Helicopters from Sligo and Shannon are on scene along with the Air Corps Casa. Ballyglass and Achill all weather lifeboats (ALBs) are on scene along with five local fishing vessels. ‘The Sligo based Coast Guard helicopter R118 completed an early morning medical evacuation (medevac) of a crewman requiring urgent medical attention from a UK registered fishing vessel approximately 150 miles west of Eagle Island in County Mayo. Owing to the distance involved safety and communication support, known as Top Cover, was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin based R116. ‘The search operation is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head. Both helicopters refuelled at Blacksod prior to transiting to the scene.’

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross said: ‘As the search for the Dublin based helicopter R116 is currently underway I would like to express my sincere support and sympathies for all those involved, particularly those family members who are awaiting news of their loved ones.

‘This is an extremely difficult time for all concerned. As we await further information I would like to appeal for space to be given to the relevant professionals involved in the search operation to complete their work. Once again, I send my utmost support to all those affected.’</s>Pilot Mark Duffy, from Dundalk, has been confirmed as one of the missing crew members from the Coast Guard helicopter which disappeared off the coast of Mayo early this morning.

Mr Duffy, who lives in Blackrock, was aboard the Dublin based Rescue 116 Irish Coast Guard helicopter, which vanished at approximately 1am this Tuesday while it was providing cover for another crew on a rescue mission.

A major search operation is underway for the missing Coast Guard helicopter with four crew on board.

Rescue 115 posted on Facebook: “Thoughts and prayers for our missing crew from Rescue 116.”

It is current assisting in the search operation along with a Coast Guard helicopter crew based in Sligo plus an Air Corps plane, local lifeboats and fishing boats.

Speaking on Newstalk this morning, acting director of the Irish Coast Guard Eugene Clonan said it was a “dark day for the emergency services", adding that his “thoughts and prayers” were with the missing crew’s families.

In a statement, the Coast Guard confirmed that there had been an incident involving one of its helicopter units.

“At approximately 1am contact was lost with one of our SAR Helicopters. A major sea search is ongoing off the county Mayo coast approximately six miles west of Blacksod. SAR Helicopters from Sligo and Shannon are on scene along with the Air Corps Casa. Ballyglass and Achill all weather lifeboats (ALBs) are on scene along with five local fishing vessels.

“The Sligo based Coast Guard helicopter R118 completed an early morning medical evacuation (medevac) of a crewman requiring urgent medical attention from a UK registered fishing vessel approximately 150 miles west of Eagle Island in County Mayo. Russian fishing vessel some 180 miles North West of Erris Head Co. Mayo. Owing to the distance involved safety and communication support, known as Top Cover, was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin based R116.

“The search operation is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head. Both helicopters refuelled at Blacksod prior to transiting to the scene.”

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, expressed deep concern at the news this morning that there has been an incident involving a Search and Rescue Helicopter off the west coast.

“As the search for the Dublin based helicopter R116 is currently underway I would like to express my sincere support and sympathies for all those involved, particularly those family members who are awaiting news of their loved ones,” he said.

“This is an extremely difficult time for all concerned. As we await further information I would like to appeal for space to be given to the relevant professionals involved in the search operation to complete their work. Once again, I send my utmost support to all those affected.”</s>DUBLIN (AP) — A female pilot died Tuesday in an unexplained rescue helicopter crash off the coast of Ireland.

Capt. Dara Fitzpatrick, 45, was found in the Atlantic Ocean around six hours after the helicopter vanished without sending out a distress call. She was later pronounced dead. Her three colleagues are missing and feared dead.

A major search off the County Mayo coast was launched after the Irish Coast Guard helicopter crashed overnight.

Fitzpatrick, from Dublin, had been involved in search and rescue missions for over 20 years.

Eugene Clonan, acting director of the Irish Coast Guard, said hopes of finding the other three personnel were fading.

The search involves an Irish naval vessel, two lifeboats, five private trawlers, two helicopters and an army surveillance plane.

The Dublin-based Sikorsky helicopter disappeared from radar as it arrived in Mayo to support a second helicopter that was rescuing an ill fisherman aboard a British trawler.</s>An Irish Coast Guard helicopter has gone missing off the west of Ireland.

Contact was lost with the Dublin-based aircraft, which has four crew on board, at around 1am.

It was providing cover for another helicopter involved in an early morning rescue operation.

A major sea search is ongoing off the Co Mayo coast - around six miles west of Blacksod.

Coast Guard helicopters from Sligo and Shannon along with the Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft Casa are involved.

They have been joined by lifeboats from Ballyglass and Achill and five local fishing vessels.

A Coast Guard spokesman said the missing helicopter had been providing cover in the evacuation of a crewman, requiring urgent medical attention, from a UK-registered fishing vessel approximately 150 miles west of Eagle Island in Co Mayo.

"Owing to the distance involved, safety and communication support, known as Top Cover, was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin based R116," he said.

"The search operation is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head.

"Both helicopters refuelled at Blacksod prior to transiting to the scene."</s>One man was found in a critical condition this morning after an Irish Coast Guard helicopter went missing with four crew on board.

The search continues for the other three rescuers after the Dublin-based helicopter vanished during an early morning rescue operation off the west of Ireland.

The aircraft was providing cover for another helicopter involved in the mission off the County Mayo coast when contact was lost with the crew at about 1am.

A sea search is ongoing six miles west of Blacksod. Coast Guard helicopters from Sligo and Shannon plus the Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft Casa are involved.

They have been joined by lifeboats from Ballyglass and Achill and five local fishing vessels.

One casualty was located and plucked from the water at around 7am, according to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

The crew member, whose condition was described as critical, was taken to hospital.

A Coast Guard spokesman said the missing helicopter had been providing cover in the evacuation of a crewman, requiring urgent medical attention, from a UK-registered fishing vessel approximately 150 miles west of Eagle Island in Co Mayo.

'Owing to the distance involved, safety and communication support, known as Top Cover, was provided by the second Coast Guard helicopter, the Dublin based R116,' he said.

'The search operation is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head. Both helicopters refuelled at Blacksod prior to transiting to the scene.'

Dublin's Transport Minister Shane Ross expressed his 'deep concern' over the helicopter's disappearance.

He said: 'As the search for the Dublin-based helicopter R116 is currently under way I would like to express my sincere support and sympathies for all those involved, particularly those family members who are awaiting news of their loved ones.

'This is an extremely difficult time for all concerned.'

Mr Ross appealed for space to be given to those involved in the search operation to complete their work. 'Once again, I send my utmost support to all those affected,' he added.

Greg Dewhurst, senior forecaster with the Met Office, said there were no unusual weather patterns overnight in the Atlantic between the west coast of Ireland and the reported location of the fishing vessel.

He said: 'There were no frontal systems bringing heavy rain. Generally it looks like there were some light south-westerly winds.

'There was quite a bit of cloud around but there were no stormy conditions.'
An Irish Coast Guard helicopter crashes off the coast of County Mayo, killing one person and leaving three others missing.