Breakthrough In Search For Missing 116 Crew Members

Photo: © Pat Flynn

The search for three missing crew members from Coast Guard Rescue 116 is continuing at Blacksod this morning.

New hi-tch equipment has been brought in from the UK to help in the search.

A black box signal has been detected by the search team, which is helping to pinpoint the location of the suspected crash site off the Mayo coast.

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The Coast Guard’s Gerard O’Flynn says getting a signal from the flight recorder was a major breakthrough.

Meanwhile,

It’s emerged the Air Corps was initially asked to provide top cover for the mission missing helicopter Rescue 116 was sent on.

The Defence Forces has confirmed that they couldn’t provide an aircraft outside of normal hours, due to a loss of experienced personnel.

Sean Defoe reports that at 6 minutes past 10 on Monday night the Irish Air Corps received a request from the coast guard to provide top cover for a long range medical evacuation off the west coast.

They replied that it wasn’t possible to provide fixed wing aircraft cover outside of normal hours.

They’ve confirmed that this is because of a loss of experienced personnel among both air crew and air traffic control.

The Rescue 116 helicopter was subsequently sent to provide top cover for the mission.

The Defence Forces say at 1.45am they then received an emergency request to conduct a search for the helicopter, which had gone missing.

They initiated a recall plan and were able to provide a Casa aircraft to assist in the search and rescue operation.

The air corps have noted plans are in place to deal with the shortage in personnel, however it meant they were unable to provide cover the night Rescue 116 was dispatched.

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was recovered from the water on Tuesday morning, but later passed away.

The search for three crew members of the helicopter still missing is now entering its third day.