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Missing helicopter: Police launch Snowdonia ground search Missing helicopter: Police launch Snowdonia ground search
(35 minutes later)
A land search is under way to try to find a helicopter carrying five people which went missing over north Wales.A land search is under way to try to find a helicopter carrying five people which went missing over north Wales.
North Wales Police is coordinating the search in Snowdonia with the Coastguard and other agencies.North Wales Police is coordinating the search in Snowdonia with the Coastguard and other agencies.
UK Coastguard duty commander Mark Rodaway said six mountain rescue teams and a dog unit were hampered by visibility of just 10ft (3m) in places.UK Coastguard duty commander Mark Rodaway said six mountain rescue teams and a dog unit were hampered by visibility of just 10ft (3m) in places.
The privately-owned helicopter vanished while over Caernarfon Bay en route to Dublin from Milton Keynes.The privately-owned helicopter vanished while over Caernarfon Bay en route to Dublin from Milton Keynes.
Radar contact with the the Twin Squirrel red helicopter was lost on Wednesday afternoon. Radar contact with the the Twin Squirrel red helicopter was lost on Wednesday afternoon and initial searches followed the intended flight plan of the aircraft over the Irish Sea.
Mr Rodaway said: "There was an extensive search yesterday evening following the intended flight plan of the aircraft over the Irish Sea. Mr Rodaway said: "These aircraft normally carry beacons that we can track by satellite - they're activated by salt water - we've not seen any of that and also mobile phone data has aided our inquiries in shifting inland."
"That search did not give us any results at all, but further inquiries are leading the focus of effort inland into Snowdonia National Park." Helicopter searches between north Wales and the shore of Dublin on Wednesday were scuppered by low lying cloud, which reduced visibility.
A Mayday broadcast has been issued to all vessels passing through the Irish Sea route to contact the Coastguard if they see anything. Mr Rodaway said the bad weather in Snowdonia gave him "concern" about sending Coastguard helicopters into the mountain range, but if weather conditions improved throughout the morning, they would be able to send air support to aid the search teams on the ground.
Helicopter searches between north Wales and the shore of Dublin were hampered by low lying cloud, which reduced visibility. A Mayday broadcast has been issued to all vessels passing through the Irish Sea to contact the Coastguard if they see anything.
There are no plans to resume the aerial search unless the weather improves significantly.
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