Cork Airport 6 dead in horrific Air Crash

Six people have died after a small aircraft carrying 12 people crashed in dense fog at Cork airport this morning.

The Manx2 airline flight from Belfast to Cork overturned and caught fire while making a third attempt to land at about 9.45am.

There was heavy fog in the area at the time and visibility was poor.

There were 10 passengers and two crew on board the twin turboprop plane at the time. It was an 18-seater Fairchild Metroliner which was leased by Manx 2 with the flight number BPS 7100.

Six people died in the crash. Two of the injured were able to walk from the wreckage of the plane, while four were taken out on stretchers. The six injured people, all of whom are expected to survive, were taken to Cork University Hospital, which activated its major emergency plan.

The plane was making its third attempt to land in low visibility conditions when it crashed, flipped over and burst into flames on a grass verge.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said debris was scattered onto the runway and over a wide area.

IAA chief executive Eamonn Brennan said the plane left Belfast at 8.12am and was due in Cork at 9.10am. He said there was fog in the Cork area at the time and visibility was poor. Winds were light. "It wouldn't have been anything more than normal circumstances for Cork," he told RTÉ Radio.

The Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Unit is carrying out a full investigation. One of its teams arrived in Cork this morning by helicopter. Another team is making its way by road carrying specialist equipment to aid the investigation.

AAIU spokesman Jurgen Whyte said it will examine air traffic control tapes, radar information, weather reports and the condition and operation of the aircraft to establish the cause of the crash. He said the plane had crashed, inverted and caught fire about 1,000ft down the runway.

"Investigators will be looking to recover the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. When we analyse them we will hopefully be able to establish what was going on during the final moments of the flight," he said.

Because the flight originated in Belfast, Mr Whyte said UK authorities would be providing the investigation with the passenger manifest and with details of how much fuel the plane was carrying. A team of investigators from the UK will be assisting the AAIU teams.

Mr Whyte said a preliminary report into the accident would be completed within a month but that the full investigation could take up to two years depending on its complexity. He said the Metroliner was not a modern aircraft but could fly for 30 years if it was properly certified and maintained.

A spokesman for Dublin Airport Authority, which operates Cork airport, said it was closed following the crash.

The IAA extended its sympathies to the families of those killed and injured.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen is due to travel to Cork airport and Cork University Hospital this afternoon to meet with those involved in the response to the tragedy.

President Mary McAleese expressed her deep shock and sadness. "The President said her thoughts and prayers, and those of all the people of Ireland, are with the families of the deceased and the survivors at this very difficult time," a spokeswoman said.

Minister for Transport Pat Carey also expressed his sympathies to everyone who had been injured and the families of those who had died.

A casualty information bureau has been set up at the airport with staff operating a helpline on 021 442 8820. Enquiries about the accident can also be addressed to the AAIU at 01 6041293.

Manx2 airlines has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about friends or relatives. It can be contacted on 0044 2890 4270 04.

Manx2 is a "virtual" airline in that it did not actually operate any aircraft itself but sells flights which are operated by a number of different carriers. It was founded in the Isle of Man and carries 100,000 passengers a year.

It announced last September that it was expanding its presence in Northern Ireland, choosing George Best Belfast City Airport as its first permanent base outside the Isle of Man and launching the twice-daily service from Belfast to Cork. The flight takes about 70 minutes.

Aer Lingus cancelled four flights in and out of Cork after the accident while a number of others have been diverted to Shannon. Ryanair said a number of flights scheduled to arrive in and depart from Cork will now operate from Shannon. Intending passengers are advised to contact their airlines.

Category:

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Tags:

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• 6
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• in
• air
• crash

[xXjordon]

My mum was meant to be on this flight but god spared her, thank heavens she had cancelled because we were going to portugal.

[Tyler99Wood]

@Child0fDarkn3ss 

[Child0fDarkn3ss]

Heather Elliott was the one who walked away...shes my college tutor

[tomboylolz97]

My cousin Brendan McAleese was on this flight :( RIP Brendan -3

[Tutorialreporter]

@wizzair1313 me too i was sitting and then i was killed :(

[wizzair1313]

i was on that plane i was sitting in 8a

[foxdmulder]

after 20 mins he was out of time.

[foxdmulder]

Should have used Snn/kir as an alternate, why did they not divert? they would have known the conditions when leaving bfs. Another example of punctuality over saftey. In a few months the report of this accident will be along the lines of ''meterlogical conditions were beyond the pilots comprehension, 2 failed landing attempts should have made the flight crew aware that conditions were not favourable, he chose to circle fo 20 mins before making final fatal attempt. An alternate was the safest opt'

[ryanair737400]

shocking , I'm actually devistated this happened