Search Underway for Missing Royal Navy Crew Off Irish Coast

A multi-agency search operation is underway off Ireland's northwest coast for a missing crew member from a UK Royal Navy support vessel, who was last seen late Friday evening.

The Irish Coast Guard received a distress alert from the vessel just before 9 a.m. on Saturday, prompting an immediate response in waters north of Tory Island in County Donegal. The crew member was reported missing after being last observed around 10:30 p.m. the previous night, according to a statement from Ireland's Department of Transport. The search area spans the sea between Tory Island and Eagle Island in County Mayo, approximately 32 kilometers west of the Donegal coastline.

Coordinated by the Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Malin Head, County Donegal, the effort involves air and sea assets from multiple organizations. Aerial searches are being conducted by the Coast Guard's fixed-wing aircraft, Rescue 120F, operating from Shannon Airport; the Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118, based in Sligo; and an Irish Air Corps plane, CASA 284. On the water, the UK naval vessel is assisting alongside three Royal National Lifeboat Institution all-weather lifeboats stationed at Ballyglass,...