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Hawker Hunter
Air show tragedy plane flew at three Irish displays this summer
The 1950s-era Hawker Hunter flew in the Shannon, Bray and Foynes air displays.
THE IRISH AVIATION Authority has confirmed the aircraft that crashed in England at the weekend killing up to 20 people flew at three Irish air displays during the summer.
The craft participated in the Shannon, Bray and Foynes air displays in recent months, the Authority said.
Eleven people have been confirmed dead after the Hawker Hunter – a type of jet first developed in the 1950s – failed to pull out of a loop and crashed into traffic next to the Shoreham air show near Brighton.
Eleven people have been confirmed dead and investigators fear more bodies could be found among the wreckage.
“The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is deeply saddened with the tragic events which occurred at the Shoreham Airshow last weekend and wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to all the families and friends of those who lost their lives,” a statement said.
“Every year, air displays and airshows take place throughout Ireland, the UK and all over the world and these events attract thousands of spectators.
Tragedies of this nature are extremely rare due to safety regulatory requirements which are in place, governing the safe conduct of air displays.
The authority is stressing that displays held in Ireland have to comply with strict regulations.
Anyone who plans an event also needs to carry out a risk assessment, have an emergency plan for the day, hold event insurance, take out an event licence and fulfil a number of other requirements.
Safety regulations for air shows in Ireland are broadly similar to those in the UK and elsewhere in the EU.
Already, Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority has said it is going to tighten laws on air shows.
The new rules mean Hawker Hunter aircraft have been banned from displays, and vintage aircraft will no longer be allowed perform stunts.
Asked whether similar measures would be looked at here, the IAA said it constantly reviewed safety regulations.
“An air accident report on this tragedy will be produced by the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch and recommendations from the report will be considered by the IAA in due course and acted upon as appropriate.”
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