A preliminary report into a helicopter accident at the Salthill Airshow in Galway last weekend suggests that a member of the public tampered with the aircraft.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit has published its preliminary report on the incident that saw the door of a RAF Merlin Helicopter fall approximately 45m to the ground.
Three spectators sustained minor injuries.
Watch footage of the incident here.
Following a detailed examination, investigators said they could not attribute the loss of the door to any technical failure.
Earlier that day the helicopter had been on display at the show and investigators say they believe it was then that the door was tampered with.
However, it is not thought the tampering was a pre-meditated or malicious act.
Digital Video and camera evidence confirmed that the emergency egress door-locking handle was in the unlocked position as the helicopter commenced its lift-off.
Mr Jurgen Whyte, chief Inspector of air accidents of the Air Accident Investigation Unit in the Department of Transport is conducting the investigation.
