Three injured at Galway air show

Three people have been injured at the Salthill Air Show in Galway when a door fell off an airborne Royal Air Force helicopter.

Witnesses at the show said the helicopter was hovering around 100ft over a seaside hotel when a side door came loose and plunged into a crowd below.

It is understood the door crashed to the ground and bounced before falling a second time.

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it would launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We regret any injuries that were caused and an inquiry will take place to establish what happened,” an MoD spokeswoman said.

The three injured spectators were taken to University College Hospital Galway. They are said to be in a stable condition, and none of the injuries are believed to be life threatening.

Liam McBurney, a photographer who captured the event from the top of a hotel, said panic erupted as 100 people scattered from the shoreline.

“The door fell off and was just like a piece of paper floating in the wind,” he said.

“It floated over the promenade and crashed into the beach before bouncing about five to 10ft into the air and landing again.”

Mr McBurney said the air show had just finished and the area was packed with people when the incident happened.

(JM)