A major search is under way in the Irish Sea after a helicopter failed to arrive as scheduled.
The coastguard operation was sparked after the privately-owned twin squirrel disappeared from radars and could not be contacted by air bases.
The aircraft, which has five people on board, had left Milton Keynes earlier today and was due to arrive in Dublin, via Caernarfon Bay.
UK Coastguard is currently co-ordinating a search operation for an overdue helicopter in the Caernarfon Bay area.
The local search and rescue helicopter has carried out an extensive land based search of fields and airfields within the surrounding area and the helicopter based at St Athan has joined the search this evening.
A Mayday Relay broadcast has been issued to all vessels passing through the Irish Sea route to contact the coastguard if they have seen anything.
A search of the Irish sea route is commencing this evening. The North Wales Police have also been notified of the search operation.
The coastguard’s duty commander Peter Davies said: “We have established a search plan between Caernarfon Bay and the shore of Dublin and currently have two Coastguard helicopters searching the route. We are in the process of contacting all the vessels in the Irish Sea that were in the vicinity around midday and we are continuing Mayday broadcast action for any vessels currently in the area to contact us if they have any further information.
“At the moment we are appealing to these vessels and to the public that if they have seen a twin squirrel red helicopter to please contact 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”