Why at 11: 39a.m., did Shannon Air Traffic Control instruct the Viscount to divert from it’s original route to a new heading over the Wales coast. It’s normal route would have taken the aircraft along the south coast of Ireland to Tuskar Rock and then onto Strumble Head in Wales. This course change was never fully explained nor was it revealed in the days after the crash.

Mr O'Driscoll of Cork, Ireland has offered this explanation for the diversion: " As a keen aviation enthusiast, I have monitored the Air Band frequencies for many years. It was quite normal for aircraft of this type to route from Cork to Tuskar and then on to Strumble Head in Wales. However Shannon ATC frequently allow aircraft to proceed direct to Strumble once approval is received from British ATC. I would not therefore read anything in to the flight being re-routed as it was and still is a routine procedure."   via email 15 January 1999.

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