Helicopter crash in Bettystown

The pilot of a Sikorsky helicopter had a miraculous escape when his helicopter burst into flames just after crashing on main street, Bettystown, at 4.30pm on Thursday evening. The crash occurred beside the Neptune Beach Hotel in Bettystown, which houses the Colaiste na Inse secondary school. The incident occurred at around 4.30pm, when students were gone home from school. Some staff remained at the school and the caretaker, Brian Emmet rescued the pilot, who had earlier dropped two people at Bettystown Beach for a business meeting in the village. Apartments in the area were damaged by the explosion and the main street of Bettystown was littered with debris from the helicopter.