Pilots recognised for avoiding potential 'catastrophe' near Kilcullen

A Pilatus PC-9M. Pic: Irish Air Corps.

Two Air Corps pilots whose plane had engine failure near Kilcullen have been honoured at the Defence Forces Values Awards, writes Brian Byrne.

They are Lieuts Eoin Blake and Kenneth Godden, whose Pilatus 2-seater aircraft lost engine power on 26 February 2021 while on an instruction flight to Cork.

Instead of ejecting and allowing the aircraft to crash in the Kilcullen area, with possible injury or loss of life on the ground, they remained in the aircraft and glided it back to Casemont Aerodrome, landing it safely.

The award was given for moral courage for “ensuring potential catastrophic results for the crew and the civilian population were avoided.”

The Air Corps currently has eight of the Swiss-made Pilatus aircraft in service. They are the primary training aircraft for the Irish Air Corps.

NOTE: Corrected for typo in date.

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