Major rescue search underway for missing Coast Guard helicopter

A major search is under way off the west coast of Ireland after a Coast Guard helicopter with four crew members on board went missing.

The search is focused on the Mayo coastline in the Blacksod area. 

Contact was lost with the helicopter at around 1am last night.

The blue icons are SAR (L to R: #Rescue116, 2 RNLI lifeboats and Aer Corps Casa). The orange are fishing vessels that appear to have joined. pic.twitter.com/MbwUOfxbFJ

— Jim Daly (@psneeze) March 14, 2017

The team were out evacuating a crewman in need of medical attention on a UK fishing vessel, according to the Irish Times.

“Conditions are reasonable. It was a moonlit night last night so it wasn’t so bad. It’s daylight now, which makes it easier for them” Tony McNamara, a lifeboat operations manager in Achill told The Journal.

A number of helicopters and all-weather life boats are currently on the scene. 

Feature Image: Rescue 116 Facebook