THE PARTNER of the co-pilot killed when the Manx2.com flight crashed at Cork Airport last month has paid tribute to the emergency services for their swift response which helped save the lives of six people on board the flight.
Beth Webster from York lost her partner, Andrew Cantle (27), when the 19-year-old Metroliner III aircraft he was piloting crashed while attempting to land in thick fog on the main runway on February 10th.
Mr Cantle, along with his pilot, Capt Jordi Sola Lopez (31) and four passengers, Richard Noble, Pat Cullinan, Brendan McAleese and Michael Evans, died when the commuter flight from Belfast City Airport crashed.
“My heart goes out to all of the other bereaved families and loved ones, my thoughts are with them,” said Ms Webster, who said she was still devastated by the loss of her partner.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Cork city, including the emergency services both in Ireland and the UK and the air crash investigation team whose conduct has been both professional and exemplary.
“I know Andy would have done everything in his power to prevent this tragedy from happening, as he was such a caring people person and a natural lifesaver, proved through his past service and commitment to the RNLI.
“He would have thought nothing about putting his own life on the line to save others,” she said, adding that a huge part of her own life had been taken by the death of her partner and she found it hard to imagine her future without him.
Ms Webster’s comments come as lord mayor of Cork city Michael O’Connell and mayor of Cork county Kevin Murphy prepare to host a service at the North Cathedral for those affected by the crash.
Bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley and Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Paul Colton will lead the service to commemorate those killed and injured and to pay tribute to those involved in the rescue effort.
Meanwhile, lawyers acting for Ms Webster have reiterated their belief that the Air Accident Investigation Unit preliminary report into the crash raises serious questions about the Manx2.com flight operated by Flightline BCN.
And lawyers acting for Mark Dickens from Watford, who survived the crash, have expressed similar concerns after reading the report, which revealed that Mr Cantle was piloting the aircraft with Capt Lopez acting as the non-flying pilot.
The preliminary investigation found no evidence of mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to impact. The full investigation into the crash will examine issues such as the experience of the flight crew. It will also look at the issues of operational control and regulatory oversight between the ticket sellers, Manx2.com, the service operators, Flightline BCN and the aircraft’s owners, Air Lada of Seville, Spain.