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Helicopter crashes in North Sea killing at least 8

by mudricky | April 1, 2009 at 09:22 am

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Super Puma helicopter.

There has been a helicopter crash in the North Sea, off the Aberdeenshire coast of Scotland.

The aircraft was returning from a platform belonging to BP around 2pm when it went down 35 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast.

In a statement, Grampian Police said: “We can confirm that eight bodies haven been recovered from the North Sea after a helicopter came down around 35 miles off the coast of Crimond.

“The remaining eight persons are unaccounted for.”

The oil company BP, who ran the Helicopter said to the press: “It was coming on shore from the Miller oil field.

“We’ve activated all our emergency response systems and are working closely with the coastguard."

Link to BBC covarage | Link to SKY covarge

At least eight people have died after a helicopter with 16 people on board crashed into the North Sea.
The Bond Super Puma came down about 13 miles off Crimond on the Aberdeenshire coast, just before 1400 BST. A major search for survivors was launched.

Police later said eight bodies had been found, with the eight others on board missing. The search operation includes helicopters and an RAF Nimrod.

The crashed helicopter was returning from BP's Miller field.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said: "For the families concerned, it's an appalling tragedy and also for everybody who's worried at this moment, about whether their loved ones have been caught up in this tragedy.

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aberdulais

at 10:07 on April 1st, 2009

A statement from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said:"At just before 2.00 pm this afternoon, Aberdeen Coastguard were informed of a ditched Bond helicopter about 35 miles off the coast of Crimond (between Fraserburgh and Peterhead)

Two helicopters from the RAF (R131 & R 137) were scrambled to the scene and a Nimrod marine patrol aircraft was diverted to the area. RNLI lifeboats from Peterhead and Fraserburgh attended the scene.

A variety of vessels immediately responded and the nearest vessel the 'Normand Aurora' launched their fast rescue craft to the scene.

Amy Judd

at 13:01 on April 1st, 2009

This is the second one in so many weeks isn't it? Or am I thinking about another helicopter crash?

mudricky

at 13:26 on April 1st, 2009

Yes, you are correct about that.

The crash comes less than two months after a Super Puma helicopter with 18 people on board ditched in the Etap field 125 miles east of Aberdeen.

All those on board survived the crash on 18 February.

Helicopter operator Bond confirmed one of its aircraft was involved in the latest incident. It carried 14 passengers and two crew.