AN AIR CORPS air ambulance had to make a hard landing in county Tipperary today as it was en route to an emergency call out.
The Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) helicopter made the emergency landing near Borrisoleigh at 2.10pm, the Defence Department confirmed to TheJournal.ie this afternoon.
The craft, which is operated by the Air Corps on behalf of the HSE, had left Custume Barracks in Athlone at 1.50pm and there were three crew on board. The two Air Corps crew and one HSE paramedic were not injured in the incident. The patient who was in need of care at the time was transferred safely to hospital by road.
Contingency plans are being put in place to resume the EAS service as soon as possible. The service was launched less than a month ago by ministers James Reilly and Alan Shatter and it only completed its first call successfully on 5 June.
The extent of the damage caused to the helicopter in today’s landing is yet to be determined and the Air Accident Investigation Unit in the Department of Transport has been informed.
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