Minister Cullen safe after helicopter incident

Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Martin Cullen is safe today after a helicopter he was travelling in was forced to make a precautionary landing in Kerry.

At around 3.30pm, approximately three minutes after take off from Killarney Race Course, the port (left hand side) main door of the helicopter fell off at a height of 500 feet.

The two passengers, who were sitting on the port side of the Air Corps AW 139 helicopter, and three crew are all safe and well, after landing the pad at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.

The aircraft is currently on the ground until a Military Airworthiness Inspection Team and technicians examine the aircraft on the ground.

The same helicopter brought Minister Cullen from Waterford to Killarney this morning and was returning to Dublin when the incident occurred.