The Athlone air ambulance pictured in Custume Barracks

Athlone air ambulance helicopter in dramatic incident

An investigation is underway into an incident in which the rear door of the Athlone-based air ambulance helicopter detached and fell to the ground while it was in flight.

The incident happened at around 5.52pm this evening when the Emergency Aeromedical Service helicopter was returning to Casement Aerodrome.

The door landed in Moyle Park, Clondalkin. Thankfully, nobody on the ground, or in the air, was injured in the incident.

The crew of the AW139 helicopter had successfully completed a life saving mission to a Dublin hospital and were returning to Baldonnel for fuel.

The area in which the door fell was secured by Defence Forces personnel and An Garda Siochana within five minutes of the incident and an investigation team were on scene within thirty minutes. Once the area has been analysed the door will be removed and transported to Baldonnel.

The EAS service will recommence tomorrow, as normal, with a replacement aircraft and crew. A full investigation will be conducted into the cause of this incident.

Social media users posted videos of the door in the Moyle Park area of Dublin.