One crew member of the missing coastguard helicopter has been found and is in a critical condition.
The Sligo Rescue helicopter spotted the debris from the 116 early this morning off the coast of Mayo and one man is now being brought ashore.
However officials say hopes are fading for his three crewmembers.
They’ve also confirmed no distress call was received from Rescue 116 before they lost contact at around 1am.
It had been covering the Sligo 118 which was called to a medical evacuation of a fisherman from a vessel 150km off the coast last night, when it disappeared from radar screens.
Director of the Coastguard Eugene Clonan says it’s a dark day for the emergency services:
