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Helicopter Crashes Off Norway, Leaving No Signs of Survivors Helicopter Crashes Off Norway, Leaving No Signs of Survivors
(35 minutes later)
A helicopter carrying 13 people that was flying from an oil field in the North Sea crashed on Friday off the Norwegian coast just before reaching the city of Bergen, and there were no signs of survivors. A helicopter carrying 13 people from an oil field in the North Sea to the city of Bergen crashed on Friday off the Norwegian coast, and there were no signs of survivors.
Eleven passengers and two pilots — identified as 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian — were en route from the Gullfaks B oil platform of the Norwegian energy company Statoil, the company and the authorities confirmed. The cause of the crash was unclear. Eleven passengers and two pilots — identified as 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian — were en route from the Gullfaks B oil platform of the Norwegian energy company Statoil, the company and Norwegian authorities said. The cause of the crash was unclear.
A search both on land and at sea recovered 11 bodies, according to the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Center, which was conducting the rescue operation with assistance from Statoil. A search on land and at sea recovered 11 bodies, according to the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Center, which was conducting the rescue operation with assistance from Statoil. The center said on Twitter that the two other passengers were also presumed dead, and that the rescue operation had been halted.
Television footage showed thick smoke rising from the site, on the island of Turoy, just northwest of Bergen. A rescue boat and other small vessels could also be seen. Television footage showed thick smoke rising from the island of Turoy, northwest of Bergen, on Norway’s southwest coast. A rescue boat and other small vessels could also be seen.
According to the rescue team, part of the helicopter's hull was under water, about 65 feet from the shore, with debris scattered around it. George Langeland, who lives in Turoy, said he saw the helicopter explode and fall from they sky from the terrace of his home. “It was a large explosion,” he said by telephone from the island. “I don’t know better how to describe it.”
Rescue coordinators told journalists that a flight ban, including for drones, had been imposed for three nautical miles around the scene of the crash. Statoil said it had grounded all helicopters like the one that crashed. Mr. Langeland added that he saw the rotor break off the helicopter.
Relatives of people onboard told to contact Statoil or the local authorities. Part of the helicopter's hull was under water, about 65 feet from the shore, with debris scattered around it, according to members of the rescue team.
Rescue coordinators told journalists that a flight ban, including for drones, had been imposed for three nautical miles around the site of the crash. Statoil said it had grounded all helicopters like the one that crashed.
The aircraft was a Eurocopter EC225, according to Flightradar24, a website that tracks aviation, and it was operated by CHC Helicopter, a Canadian company.The aircraft was a Eurocopter EC225, according to Flightradar24, a website that tracks aviation, and it was operated by CHC Helicopter, a Canadian company.
In 2013, a helicopter of the same make carrying workers for Total from another North Sea oil platform, also operated by CHC, crashed short of the runway in the Shetland Islands, killing four people. In 2013, a helicopter of the same make carrying workers for Total from another North Sea oil platform, and also operated by CHC, crashed short of the runway in the Shetland Islands, killing four people.
Relatives of people onboard the helicopter that crashed on Friday were told to contact Statoil or the local authorities.