Irish Examiner view: State must pay costs of helicopter crash review

Families of crew who lost lives on Rescue 116 tragedy face substantial legal bills

A memorial service and wreath laying ceremony on the first anniversary of the Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 crash at Blacksod Light house and Pier, Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Picture: Michael McLaughlin

The families of the crew of the helicopter that crashed while on a search and rescue mission in 2017 are facing substantial legal bills arising out of a Department of Transport review of the accident report carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU).

Pilot Dara Fitzpatrick, co-pilot Mark Duffy, and winchman Ciarán Smith along with winch operator Paul Ormsby lost their lives when their helicopter Rescue 116 crashed into Blackrock Island off the coast of Mayo in March 2017.