THE search for the missing Dublin-bound helicopter has continued on land over Snowdonia in Wales after poor weather hampered aerial search efforts.
The private helicopter, which departed from Milton Keynes yesterday afternoon, had five people on board bound for Dublin.
When it failed to arrive in Dublin, a search operation commenced at 4.15pm over the Irish Sea by British Coastguard helicopters based at Caernarfon Bay and St Athan.
However, due to low lying cloud, and extremely poor visibility the helicopters returned to their bases and the Coastguard have said there are no plans at this stage to continue the aerial search unless the weather improves significantly.
The search has now begun in the Snowdonia area by North Wales Police and the Mountain Rescue Teams.
The search for the missing helicopter that was bound for Dublin has now been focussed on Snowdonia. (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)Superintendent Gareth Evans at North Wales Police said: “All available Police, Mountain Rescue and other civilian resources are currently being utilised and we are grateful for the assistance and cooperation of the public as well as our MRT volunteers who are searching very difficult and challenging terrain.
“Five people are believed to be on board this ‘private’ flight and specialist police family liaison officers are in contact with family members.
"At this stage we are not revealing their names and our thoughts are very much with their families at this difficult time.”
"We are also appealing for help from the public and local communities and so I’d ask if anyone who has sighted the aircraft flying over Snowdonia yesterday and thinks they may know of its whereabouts to contact North Wales Police via the live web chat or call 101."
