AVIATION/ SEARCH FOR CLUES IN MANX2 CORK CRASH

Investigators have found and removed the black boxes that were onboard the MANX2 SW4 that crashed on landing yesterday morning in Cork, Ireland, killing 6 of the 12 passengers and crew onboard. 5 investigative teams from Ireland, the UK, Spain and the US are on the scene today and ground staff has begun moving the wreckage to a nearby hanger. Flight 7100, which was being operated by FLIGHTLINE BN, was scheduled to depart Belfast at 7:50am, however it was delayed and did not depart until 8:12am. There were 10 passengers and 2 Pilots onboard. The Swearingen SA227 Metroliner was due to land in Cork at 910am. According to investigators today, the aircraft 1st attempted to land from a southerly direction on Cork's main runway, known as Runway 17. This was aborted due to low visibility. It then tried to land on the opposite, northerly, approach to the main runway, Runway 35. The Aviation Authority said it is believed wind was not a problem, but the Captain was still unhappy with visibility. The plane went into a holding position for 20 minutes, before making a 3rd attempt to land on the southerly approach to the main runway. At 9:40am, the plane was 10 miles out from the Airport. At 9:50am, the plane hit the ground at what is called the 'western threshold' of the runway. Eye witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and some said the plane bounced up before it flipped over. A fire broke out, but was extinguished quickly as Emergency Services arrived on the scene.

Both Pilots were among the 6 people killed in the crash. Among the victims was a cousin of Irish president, Mary McAleese's husband. 4 of the 6 survivors remained hospitalized in serious, but stable condition. 2 of those are in intensive care. The 2 other survivors were released from hospital today. The CEO of MANX2 has strongly defended the Pilots of Flight 7100 today and said they followed standard procedures in trying to land 3 times in dense fog. "It is sadly not unusual in terms of bad weather for aircraft to take 3 approaches, it is the standard. I am very confident of the standards and levels in which they operate". His words came after aviation experts, including a Pilot for AER LINGUS, said it was most unusual for Pilots to make more than 2 attempts at landing. Investigators said that they probe will examine all factors, including the weather and the multiple attempts to land.