VISCOUNT WHICH CRASHED; OTHER AER LINGUS VISCOUNTS; A VISCOUNT IN FLIGHT.




Initials TS/VS-PUB/AS/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AN AER LINGUS AIRLINER, EI-AOM, WHICH CRASHES OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH WALES TODAY (SUNDAY) IS STILL MISSING DESPITE A BIG AIR AND SEA SEARCH. TONIGHT AER LINGU'S DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER -- WHOSE BROTHER WAS ON THE AIRCRAFT -- SAID THAT THE AIRLINE ACCEPTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT, WITH 61 PEOPLE ON BOARD, MAD BEEN LOST.

THE CREW OF FOUR AND 57 PASSENGERS, SOME TOURISTS, ARE NOW FEARED TO HAVE DIED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM CORK TO LONDON WHICH SHOULD HAVE LASTED ONLY A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR.

THROUGHOUT THIS AFTERNOON, WARSHIPS, ROYAL AIR FORCE AIR-SEA RESCUE AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS SEARCHED THE CORNWALL COAST TO NORTHERN IRELAND.

THE LAST REPORTED MESSAGE FROM THE PILOT WAS THE CALM ANNOUNCEMENT "SPINNING AT 5,000 FEET."