Massive search in the North Sea after helicopter crash

A Bond helo similar to the one which crashed in the North Sea (photo courtesy flickr user "hyper_bloke")

The British Maritime & Coast Guard agency has been coordinating a massive search and rescue effort in the North Sea off Scotland following the crash of a Bond Super Puma AS 33L Mk II.  The helicopter was being used to transport BP employees from one of the offshore oil platforms in the Miller oil & gas field.  16 people were reported to have been on board the aircraft when it crashed.  Rescuers have located and recovered 8 bodies thus far.

“The outlook for the other eight people involved is extremely bleak.”

Bond is one of several companies that routinely ferries thousands of oil workers to and from rigs and platforms, from Europe’s busiest heliport at Aberdeen.

The crash was witnessed by the crew of a supply vessel, Normand Aurora, three miles away. It launched its rapid rescue vessel, while the RAF scrambled two rescue helicopters. A Nimrod was sent to co-ordinate the search and two RNLI lifeboats went out from the nearby ports of Fraserburgh and Peterhead.

After the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued an emergency mayday call, 11 ships, including two trawlers, joined the search.

Search efforts have been suspended until daylight on Thursday.  Everyone on board the helo was wearing a survival suit.

The helpline for concerned relatives is 01224 836 479.

BBC News article

The Guardian news article