Pilot's body found in cockpit of R116 Irish Coastguard helicopter wreckage as search continues for missing crew

  • Divers have recovered another body from crashed Irish Coast Guard helicopter
  • Body believed to be that of the pilot, Mark Duffy, and was found in cockpit 
  • Aircraft crashed into the sea off Co Mayo last week with four people on board
  • Body of Capt Dara Fitzpatrick was the first to have been recovered
  • Black box is in 'good condition' and will be transferred to UK for analysis

By Joseph Curtis For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A body has been found in the search for three crew missing from an Irish Coast Guard helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic over a week ago.

It is understood the remains of helicopter pilot Mark Duffy were found in the cockpit of the aircraft, although the body is yet to be formally identified.

The discovery was confirmed after eight dives were carried out on the wreckage of Rescue 116 off Blackrock island, about eight miles off the coast of Co Mayo.

The body was in the cockpit of the helicopter wreckage on the seabed under 130ft of water.

Divers recovered another body and the black box recorder from an Irish Coast Guard helicopter that crashed in the Atlantic last week. Pictured is the search and rescue team at Blacksod, Co Mayo

Divers have recovered another body and the black box recorder from an Irish Coast Guard helicopter that crashed in the Atlantic last week. Pictured is the search and rescue team at Blacksod, Co Mayo

The body of pilot Mark Duffy, pictured, is believed to have been recovered by divers

The body of pilot Mark Duffy, pictured, is believed to have been recovered by divers

Search teams, pictured, found the wreckage around eight miles off the coast of Co Mayo, Ireland

Search teams, pictured, found the wreckage around eight miles off the coast of Co Mayo, Ireland,

Ciaran Smith
Paul Ormsby

Winchmen Ciaran Smith and Paul Ormsby were on board the Sikorsky helicopter involved in the accident off the coast of Ireland

Garda superintendent Tony Healy said efforts were continuing to recover the body.

'It's a challenging time for the families obviously they're going through a stressful time waiting for the recovery of their loved ones,' he said.

Families of the crew have been notified and are being supported by garda liaison staff.

It came after divers recovered the black box flight recorder from an Irish Coast Guard helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic over a week ago. 

The Sikorsky S-92 is believed to have hit the island before crashing into the sea in the early hours of March 14.

The body of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, pictured, was the first to be recovered. Such was the suddenness of the disaster, the crew didn't even have time to issue a distress call

The body of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, pictured, was the first to be recovered. Such was the suddenness of the disaster, the crew didn't even have time to issue a distress call

Garda, pictured, have been stationed at the entrance of Blacksod quay while the operation continues

Garda, pictured, have been stationed at the entrance of Blacksod quay while the operation continues

The body of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, a 45-year-old mother-of-one, is the only one of the four crew to have been recovered from the ocean so far.

The other crew members, Captain Mark Duffy, Winchman Ciaran Smith and Winch Operator Paul Ormsby, remain missing.

The black box recorder was taken from the seabed at 4.30pm.

Jurgen Whyte, chief inspector with Ireland's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU), said the unit appeared to be in good condition.

'It was always a priority to recover the three crew members however there are protocols within our work - where we see a recorder we are obliged to take the recorder,' he said.

'The concern was that if we did not take it at the time we would not get it.'

The black box recorder was taken from the seabed by search teams, pictured, at 4.30pm

The black box recorder was taken from the seabed by search teams, pictured, at 4.30pm

Ireland's Air Accident Investigations Unit said the divers, pictured, recovered the box in 'good condition'

Ireland's Air Accident Investigations Unit said the divers, pictured, recovered the box in 'good condition'

'Now our focus is to continue with the operation to seek and recover the three remaining crew members.'

The black box will be transported overnight to Dublin before being taken to the UK where air accident investigators will dry it and attempt to download the data at a special facility. 

It is hoped it will be known if there is a record of the flight by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile was positioned throughout the day next to the dive platform and carrying a recompression chamber in case of emergencies.

A shot line was dropped 40 metres on to the seabed next to the helicopter wreckage for divers to traverse.

The AAIU has said it believed the tail of Rescue 116 hit rocks on the western end of the island, about eight miles off the Mayo coast as it returned from supporting a rescue mission to refuel at Blacksod.

There was no indication of any danger moments before the Sikorsky S92 vanished, with the crew's final transmission: 'Shortly landing at Blacksod.'

The black box was transported overnight to Dublin before being taken to the UK where air accident investigators will dry it and attempt to download the data at a special facility

The black box will be transported overnight to Dublin before being taken to the UK where air accident investigators will dry it and attempt to download the data at a special facility

An Irish Coast Guard helicopter, similar to the Sikorsky S-92 that crashed last week

An Irish Coast Guard helicopter, similar to the Sikorsky S-92 that crashed last week

The search for the bodies of the remaining crews continues

The search for the bodies of the remaining crews continues

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