Minister escapes injury as door falls off helicopter
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen was fortunate to avoid serious injury this afternoon when the door of a helicopter in which he was travelling came off in mid-air over Killarney National Park.
The Air Corps helicopter was bringing the minister and one of his officials back to Dublin from an Irish Hotels Federation conference in Co Kerry when it was forced to make an emergency landing at a helicopter pad at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.
It had been in the air for less than three minutes when the main door on the left hand side came loose and fell 500 feet to the ground.
According to a Defence Forces statement both passengers and three crew are safe and well. Another helicopter is being diverted from Cork and will be used to bring the minister back to Dublin this evening.
The aircraft, an AW 139, will remain grounded until technicians from Air Corps HQ at Baldonnel examine the aircraft on the ground.
The helicopter had brought Mr Cullen from Waterford to Killarney this morning and while it can fly with its doors open under certain speeds, this is normally in military and winching roles.
The Minster for Defence, Willie O’Dea, and the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley have been fully updated on the situation and will be receiving a report on the incident in due course.
