THE British pilot of a helicopter that crashed this week in Co. Longford has been released without charge.
The 60-year-old was escorted from an Isle of Man-bound aircraft at Dublin Airport yesterday (July 16).
He was taken to Longford Garda station where he was held on suspicion of engenderment – but was released this morning (July 17). A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Footage of the helicopter crash has emerged since the incident took place on Wednesday night (July 15).
The pilot was attempting to land the helicopter on a narrow strip of land between the Royal Canal and the Rustic Inn pub in Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford, at about 9.15pm on Wednesday night.
The tail of the helicopter clipped the side of the pub, smashing through its wooden wall. The pilot and his passenger both walked away with minor injuries and nobody else was hurt.
Teddy and Betty McGoey, the owners of the Rustic Inn, claimed they narrowly avoided serious injury when the helicopter’s tail and propellers came crashing into their pub.
Amateur footage of the crash emerged yesterday; while today CCTV footage has been revealed which shows the crash in detail. The footage is currently being examined by Ireland’s Air Accident Investigations Unit.
