Helicopter makes 'heavy landing'

The State’s new emergency air ambulance has been grounded after an Air Corps Eurocopter assigned to the service hit wires in Co Tipperary earlier today and was forced to make a “heavy landing”.

Two Air Corps crew and one Health Service Executive (HSE) paramedic on board were uninjured in the incident, according to the Department of Defence.

The helicopter, based at Custume Barracks in Athlone, Co Westmeath, is said to have sustained significant damage, and the Air Accident Investigation Unit and Department of Transport have been informed.

In a statement, the Department of Defence said that the helicopter had left Athlone at 1.50pm to respond to an emergency call-out in Tipperary.

“At 14.10 the helicopter was forced to perform a heavy landing near Borissoleigh, Co Tipperary,”the department said. “The patient subject to the call-out was transferred to hospital by road,”it said, adding: “The extent of damage to the helicopter is to be determined”.

“Contingency plans are being put in place to resume the Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) as soon as possible,” it said.

The service is a pilot project that has been initiated for a year through a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Health and Department of Defence. It has responded to average of one call-out daily since it became operational on June 4th.

The helicopter made a 'heavy landing' near Borissoleigh, Co Tipperary. Map: OpenStreetMap