Time line: How events unfolded after the accident

IT was 9.56am when the call came through to the Munster Regional Communication Centre about a serious fire at Cork Airport.

The crash had taken place at 9.52am.

Five units of the Cork City fire brigade and three county crews from Carrigaline, Bandon and Ballincollig all headed in the direction of Cork Airport, on a hill just about four kilometres from the city centre.

About 35 fire brigade crew members raced to the scene as did another 35 gardaí as well as traffic corps units who had to close off regular access to the airport.

Nine crewed ambulances were already at the scene as well as four advanced paramedic teams. Two passengers had walked from the plane while those injured were suffering from multiple fractures.

By 10.18pm, the County Major Emergency Plan had been activated by assistant chief fire officer, David Spillett with the city and county managers informed of what had happened.

“In a declared emergency the first thing you do is try to ascertain the number of injured, the number of fatalities and full casualty number and that’s what we did,” said Mr Spillett.

Chief fire officer John Ryan said they were very happy with the emergency crew’s response to the catastrophe.

“There was no issue with the lack of equipment. Within an hour, the Major Emergency Plan had been stood down as everything was under control and we knew there was no need to upgrade it to a national emergency,” he said.

The injured were rushed to CUH by ambulance and the last of those who died were brought from Cork airport to the mortuary at CUH shortly before 2pm.