Coast Guard Tragedy: Helicopter crew had completed similar mission six days earlier

The task being undertaken by the crew of Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 when they disappeared was almost a carbon copy of a mission they carried out with their Sligo colleagues in Rescue 118 just six days earlier.

On Wednesday, March 8, they were called on to provide top cover as Rescue 118 flew to evacuate an ill Russian crewman from a vessel 300km west of Blacksod.

Then, as yesterday, the operation took place in the early hours of the morning, the location of the casualty was similar, the duties assigned to both helicopters identical, and the conditions broadly the same.