First dive for missing helicopter to take place today

The first dives for the Irish Coast Guard’s missing helicopter, R116, are likely to take place off the Mayo coast this morning.

The exploratory dives come after it emerged that the R116 may have struck rocks on the western side of Blackrock island.

Yesterday evening, a spokesman for the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport said rescue workers were hopeful of a “window of opportunity” to carry out the first dive of the area this morning.