Three people were injured when the door fell off a helicopter at the Salthill Air Show yesterday. Cheering crowds were shocked when the door fell from about 150 feet as the RAF helicopter took off from a car park on the beach front.
They had no time to avoid the falling object and the door hit three people on the beach. A man, a Polish national, and two women were injured in the incident.
They were treated on the beach, apparently suffering from back and neck injuries, before being moved to University College Hospital.
Gardaí and a Civil Defence team who were just yards from the scene of the accident rushed to the injured and two ambulances were also on the scene within minutes.
The helicopter immediately returned to the scene and the crew was interviewed by gardaí.
The helicopter was later removed to Galway airport at Carnmore where it was expected to undergo a full technical examination. A separate investigation is to be carried out by the Irish Aviation Authority. The helicopter had spent the day parked on the ground at Salthill Park alongside other aircraft which were on public display as part of the big Salthill show.
Earlier an estimated crowd of about 80,000 witnessed the annual Salthill Air Show as the US air force aerobatics team Thunderbirds stole the show over Galway Bay.
Inclement weather and a protest by anti-war activists did little to dampen the spirits of the crowd which witnessed the three-hour show.
The RAF was represented by the impressive Eurofighter Typhoon which roared across Galway Bay and performed a series of manoeuvres.
The Air Corps was joined by the Army's parachute team, the Black Nights, at the show.
Aer Arann availed of the opportunity to show off its recently purchased ATR-72-500 aircraft, which flew low across the bay. A flotilla of craft in Galway Bay provided a backdrop for the show.
The undoubted highlight of the show though was the display by the Thunderbirds in their F16 fighter jets, who were making their first Irish appearance, before moving on to Poland.
The Galway Alliance Against War organised a rally yesterday before the air show at which they released 99 red balloons.
A crowd of about 200, including the new Mayor of Galway, Cllr Tom Costello, and four other members of the City Council, attended the protest.
Mr Costello said it was very important that people had the courage of their convictions.
He said what was being witnessed in Salthill was a show of force, "of war machinery of destruction".