The helicopter went missing in the early hours of this morning…
UPDATE:
One member of crew has been found in critical condition and the search is continuing for the other members of Rescue 116.
One injured person has been found in a critical condition as search continues for three other crew members of Coast Guard helicopter
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 14, 2017
Original story published at 7.34am.
A major search operation is underway for a Coast Guard helicopter carrying four crew which disappeared off the Mayo coast.
The sea search is taking place about 10km west of Blacksod in Co Mayo after the Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter Rescue 116 lost contact between 1am and 1.30 am this morning.
Rescue 116 had been providing cover for another Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 when it lost contact.
Rescue 118 successfully completed an evacuation of a crew member on a vessel 240km west of Eagle Island this morning and Rescue 116 had been deployed from Dublin and had been providing top cover for Rescue 118’s operation.
RTE’s Joe Mag Raollaigh has an image of the area currently being searched by members of the Coast Guard, RNLI and the Irish Navy.
Area of ongoing search for missing Coastguard Helicopter and crew off Co Mayo #coastguard #rtenews pic.twitter.com/VHIaIKSfGo
— Joe Mag Raollaigh (@joemagraollaigh) March 14, 2017
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