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Five people killed in Snowdonia helicopter crash Five family members die in Snowdonia helicopter crash
(about 3 hours later)
Five people have been killed in a helicopter crash in north Wales.Five people have been killed in a helicopter crash in north Wales.
A massive air and land search was launched on Wednesday afternoon after the aircraft vanished en route from Luton to Dublin. Two of those on board have been named locally as Kevin and Irish-born Ruth Burke from Hulcote, Milton Keynes.
Supt Gareth Evans of North Wales Police said on Thursday the crash site was in the Rhinog mountains between Harlech and Trawsfynydd, and the bodies of all five people on board had been found. They were believed to have been travelling with three other family members to Dublin for a christening.
The BBC understands they were Irish and on their way to a christening. A massive air and land search was launched on Wednesday afternoon when the aircraft vanished after leaving the Luton area.
A mountain rescue team found the wreckage in the Rhinog mountains between Trawsfynydd and Harlech. Kevin and Ruth Burke are believed to have been directors of the Staske Construction company - the registered owner of a Twin Squirrel helicopter.
The privately-owned red Twin Squirrel helicopter vanished from radar contact while over Caernarfon Bay. This was the model that vanished from radar contact while over Caernarfon Bay.
It is believed Mr Burke was originally from Manchester and was a qualified pilot and Mrs Burke was from Dublin.
Supt Gareth Evans, of North Wales Police, said on Thursday the crash site was in the Rhinog mountains between Harlech and Trawsfynydd, and the bodies of all five people on board had been found.
A mountain rescue team found the wreckage.
Police said they were not aware of any plan for the helicopter to stop in Caernarfon as part of its route.Police said they were not aware of any plan for the helicopter to stop in Caernarfon as part of its route.
Formal identification of the bodies has not yet taken place and the coroner for north west Wales, Dewi Pritchard-Jones, has opened an investigation.Formal identification of the bodies has not yet taken place and the coroner for north west Wales, Dewi Pritchard-Jones, has opened an investigation.
Police have not revealed the exact location of the crash as the bodies have not been recovered from the "remote and hazardous" terrain. An air exclusion zone is in place.Police have not revealed the exact location of the crash as the bodies have not been recovered from the "remote and hazardous" terrain. An air exclusion zone is in place.
Family of those killed have been informed and an investigation into the crash is being led by the Air Accident Investigation Branch.Family of those killed have been informed and an investigation into the crash is being led by the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
Initial searches followed the intended flight plan of the aircraft over the Irish Sea, but the Coastguard said on Thursday that inquiries had led them to switch their efforts to Snowdonia National Park.Initial searches followed the intended flight plan of the aircraft over the Irish Sea, but the Coastguard said on Thursday that inquiries had led them to switch their efforts to Snowdonia National Park.
Prior to the crash site being discovered, UK Coastguard duty commander Mark 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."Prior to the crash site being discovered, UK Coastguard duty commander Mark 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."
Weather hampered the search for the aircraft - helicopter searches were called off due to low lying cloud and teams in Snowdonia had to work with visibility down to 10ft (3m) in some places.Weather hampered the search for the aircraft - helicopter searches were called off due to low lying cloud and teams in Snowdonia had to work with visibility down to 10ft (3m) in some places.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said the UK government would offer its full support to the investigation.Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said the UK government would offer its full support to the investigation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said it "stood by to offer consular assistance".The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said it "stood by to offer consular assistance".
The Eurocopter AS55 Ecureuil 2 (Twin Squirrel), made by Airbus, has a cruising speed of 140mph (225km/h) and a range of nearly 440 miles (700km).The Eurocopter AS55 Ecureuil 2 (Twin Squirrel), made by Airbus, has a cruising speed of 140mph (225km/h) and a range of nearly 440 miles (700km).