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BBC News wrote:Technical problems with rescue helicopters at RAF Valley on Anglesey delayed the rescue of a stricken ship's crew, an accident report has said.

An RAF helicopter from Yorkshire instead battled snowstorms to reach the MV Carrier off Conwy, in April 2012.

MAIB wrote:There were four Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters based relatively close to Raynes Jetty, at RAF Valley. However, none were available due to technical problems: one had a fault in the flying control system; one was having an engine replaced; one had a cracked airframe; and one had an unserviceable gearbox. The ARCC duty controller then contacted RAF Leconfield on the east coast of England to request a SAR helicopter. Due to poor weather conditions, including snow showers in northern central England, it was decided to deploy helicopter R177 based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Prestwick in Scotland instead. R177, which was completing a SAR response to another incident at the time, diverted to Llanddulas and arrived on scene at 2200 after refuelling at RAF Valley. The ARCC duty controller also asked Irish Authorities to launch R116, based in Dublin. This also suffered a technical fault while preparing to launch and was not available to assist.

An RAF spokesman said while there were four helicopters at Valley only two are equipped for search and rescue. The others are for training and would not have been deployed had they been serviceable.

The spokesman added that they operate a system of overlapping cover and during this incident target response times were met.