Pilots warned over flying close to mountain

PILOTS of commercial aircraft have been warned about flying too close to Mount Errigal on approach to Donegal Airport following an accident last year in which two passengers and one crew member were injured.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit has recommended that the Irish Aviation Authority should review flight paths which take aircraft near Donegal’s highest peak because of the increased risk of turbulence.

It follows an incident which took place on board an Aer Arann flight from Dublin to Donegal International Airport at Carrickfinn on December 2 last. During the descent at a height of around 2,700 ft, the ATR-42-300 aircraft with three crew members and 32 passengers experienced severe turbulence which lasted around 10 seconds.