Wreckage of Irish Coast Guard helicopter found off Blackrock Island

The wreckage of an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which struck an island and crashed into the Atlantic has been found.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Mar 2017, 13:19 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:06 BST
Pilot Dara FitzpatrickPilot Dara Fitzpatrick
Pilot Dara Fitzpatrick

A remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) sent down into the water to film a specific area of seabed has confirmed the aircraft is lying about 60m off Blackrock island, off the coast of Co Mayo.

The Sikorsky S92 is believed to have hit the island before crashing into the sea over a week ago.

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Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, a 45-year-old mother-of-one, is the only one of the four crew to have been recovered from the ocean so far.

The other crew members, Captain Mark Duffy, Winchman Ciaran Smith and Winch Operator Paul Ormsby, remain missing.

The Irish Coast Guard said the Dublin-based Rescue 116 helicopter is lying on the seabed, in about 40m of water, on the eastern side of the island.

The remotely-operated vehicle was not able to confirm if the three missing crew are with the wreckage.

"Operations are continuing but are weather dependent," Ireland's Air Accident Investigation Unit said.