THE BISHOP OF Cork has told how the families and friends of those on the flight which crashed at Cork Airport this morning were “anxious and distressed” as they waited for news of their loved ones.

Bishop John Buckley told TheJournal.ie that he had been attending a function on the southside of Cork city when news reached him of the crash just around 10am. He said:

Obviously I went straight to the airport to see if I could offer assistance. We met the friends and family of those who were there waiting. Their anxiety and distress was terrible to see but airport staff were very supportive and trying to do all they could to help.

The Bishop of the Cork and Ross diocese said that he said prayers with those who wanted them.

I was talking a little with some of the relatives but at that early point, they didn’t know whether there loved ones were one of those injured or one of those who had died. Later, some of the relatives accompanied the injured to Cork hospital. I’m not sure at what time they were told.

The bishop said that Cork airport was “prone” to heavy fog because it was built on an “elevated site”. The fog had lifted a little by lunchtime. A chaplain is still at the airport offering assistance.

Bishop Paul Colton, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross said that he was “shocked and hugely saddened” by the news of the crash. He added that the diocese’s sympathy and prayers were with the loved ones of those who had died.