Report an Occurrence

The legal responsibility for notification of an accident or serious incident rests first with the commander of the aircraft or, if they are incapacitated, then with the operator. However, any person may report an occurrence to the AAIU.  If the accident occurs on or adjacent to an aerodrome, then the aerodrome authority is also required to notify the accident to the AAIU. The Garda Síochana shall report to the AAIU any aviation occurrence which has come to its notice.

The notification is required to be passed to the AAIU by the quickest means and giving, as far as possible, the following information:

• the manufacturer, type and model, and the nationality and registration marks, of the aircraft;
• the name of the owner, operator and hirer, if any, of the aircraft;
• the name of the pilot in command of the aircraft;
• the date and time (local time or UTC) of the accident or serious incident;
• the last point of departure and next point of intended landing of the aircraft;
• the position of the aircraft with reference to some easily defined geographical point, and its latitude and longditude;
• the number of crew and passengers aboard the aircraft at the time of the accident or serious incident;
• the number of persons on board the aircraft killed or seriously injured  as the result of the accident or serious incident;
• the number of persons killed or seriously injured elsewhere than on the aircraft as the result of the accident or serious incident;
• the nature of the accident or serious incident and the extent of the damage to the aircraft, as far as it is known;
• the physical characteristics of the accident or serious incident area;
• a description of any dangerous goods carried on board the aircraft; and
• the identification of the person sending the notice

Where possible the person reporting an accident to the AAIU is also required to inform the Garda Síochana of the accident and the place where it occurred.

Accidents must also be reported to the Garda Síochana.