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30th Mar 2017

BREAKING Missing helicopter wreckage found along with five bodies

Gillian Fitzpatrick

The Dublin-bound helicopter which went missing yesterday has been found along with the bodies of the aircraft’s five passengers.

Taking to Twitter to confirm the tragedy, North Wales Police stated: “Sadly we can confirm that the wreckage of the helicopter that went yesterday has been located along with the bodies of 5 people.”

Police and Mountain Rescue Teams had been searching for the missing helicopter in Snowdonia in Wales.

Supt. Gareth Evans at North Wales Police furthermore revealed: “The aircraft, a red Twin Squirrel helicopter had failed to arrive in Dublin from Luton yesterday afternoon instigating a full sea and then land search and rescue operation.

“Initially, its last known position was believed ‘over sea’ in the Caernarfon Bay area but this was then narrowed to a land based search co-ordinated by North Wales Police in Snowdonia involving all local and RAF Mountain Rescue Teams.”

He added: “Formal identification has not taken place so details of the passengers are not being revealed at this time… Our thoughts are very much with them and on their behalf I ask you respect their privacy at this very difficult time.”

Supt. Evans highlighted that search conditions had been very challenging, and that “the terrain where the aircraft has been located is remote and in places hazardous”.