Cork Airport remembers the 2011 plane crash that killed six, including passengers from Northern Ireland, on its 14th anniversary.
The Manx2 flight came from Belfast and crashed on February 10, 2011. Among those who perished were Brendan McAleese, Pat Cullinan, Michael Evans, and Richard Noble. The co-pilot, Andrew Cantle, and pilot Jordi Sola Lopez also lost their lives.
The flight had twelve people on board, including two crew members. Thick fog surrounded Cork that day, and the plane tried landing before 10 AM. The 19-seat plane failed twice before losing control on a third landing attempt.
A 2014 inquest revealed that all six victims died quickly. The plane’s right wing hit the runway, causing it to flip upside down. The aircraft slid for 189 meters after the initial impact.
Firefighters responded rapidly, preventing the engine fires from reaching the plane’s body. While six people died in the crash, survivors received treatment at a hospital.
Survivors expressed their fear of being burned alive and praised the police and fire crews. Officers quickly set up a temporary morgue at the scene. The 2014 report cited pilot fatigue and a faulty engine sensor as contributing factors to the crash.
Martin McGuinness had almost been a passenger on that flight, but he changed his travel plans. Separately, a near-miss incident occurred at Cork Airport last July when two planes nearly collided.