This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36176698
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Super Puma crash: UK team to help inquiry in Norway | Super Puma crash: UK team to help inquiry in Norway |
(about 4 hours later) | |
UK air accident investigators will travel to Norway later to assist with an inquiry into a helicopter crash, thought to have killed 13. | UK air accident investigators will travel to Norway later to assist with an inquiry into a helicopter crash, thought to have killed 13. |
A team from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch is heading to the city of Bergen, near the crash site. | A team from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch is heading to the city of Bergen, near the crash site. |
Eleven people, including one Briton, died and two more are presumed dead after the Airbus EC225LP helicopter - or Super Puma - crashed on Friday. | Eleven people, including one Briton, died and two more are presumed dead after the Airbus EC225LP helicopter - or Super Puma - crashed on Friday. |
Commercial Super Puma flights in the UK have been grounded following the crash. | Commercial Super Puma flights in the UK have been grounded following the crash. |
The Briton is understood to be from Scotland. | |
The helicopter was flying from the Gullfaks oil field to Bergen, a centre for the North Sea oil and gas industry, when it crashed near the small island of Turoey. | The helicopter was flying from the Gullfaks oil field to Bergen, a centre for the North Sea oil and gas industry, when it crashed near the small island of Turoey. |
A major rescue operation was launched but ended within hours of the crash. No survivors were found. | A major rescue operation was launched but ended within hours of the crash. No survivors were found. |
Eleven Norwegians and an Italian were also on the flight, which crashed close to the country's west coast as it transported workers from a North Sea offshore oil field. | Eleven Norwegians and an Italian were also on the flight, which crashed close to the country's west coast as it transported workers from a North Sea offshore oil field. |
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it was deploying a "small team" to assist Norwegian officials in their investigation. | The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it was deploying a "small team" to assist Norwegian officials in their investigation. |
It has investigated a number of crashes involving helicopters operating to and from offshore oil and gas fields in recent years. | It has investigated a number of crashes involving helicopters operating to and from offshore oil and gas fields in recent years. |
In 2012, EC225 Super Puma helicopters crashed in two incidents in Scotland - one off Aberdeen and another off Shetland - that were both blamed on gearbox problems. | In 2012, EC225 Super Puma helicopters crashed in two incidents in Scotland - one off Aberdeen and another off Shetland - that were both blamed on gearbox problems. |
In both cases, all passengers and crew were rescued. EC225s in the UK were grounded following the crashes but given the go-ahead to resume flying in 2013. | In both cases, all passengers and crew were rescued. EC225s in the UK were grounded following the crashes but given the go-ahead to resume flying in 2013. |
Flight restrictions | Flight restrictions |
On Friday, the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced a restriction on all EC225 commercial passenger flights. | On Friday, the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced a restriction on all EC225 commercial passenger flights. |
The restriction does not apply to search and rescue flights, it said. | |
BP and Statoil have also suspended the use of the aircraft model, so it is unable to carry oil and gas workers. | BP and Statoil have also suspended the use of the aircraft model, so it is unable to carry oil and gas workers. |
"Following the accident, the UK CAA has issued an instruction to stop any commercial passenger flights by UK operators flying the Airbus EC225LP helicopter," a CAA statement said. | "Following the accident, the UK CAA has issued an instruction to stop any commercial passenger flights by UK operators flying the Airbus EC225LP helicopter," a CAA statement said. |
"This mirrors action taken by the Norwegian CAA." | "This mirrors action taken by the Norwegian CAA." |
Super Pumas are responsible for many of the 140,000 helicopter passenger flights in the UK each year. | Super Pumas are responsible for many of the 140,000 helicopter passenger flights in the UK each year. |
Tommy Campbell, regional industrial officer at the Unite union, said the incident raised questions about the safety of oilrig workers. | Tommy Campbell, regional industrial officer at the Unite union, said the incident raised questions about the safety of oilrig workers. |
He told the BBC: "We need to wait and see what the accident investigation branch uncover but by these early reports, it appears that it is some sort of mechanical fault - and if that turns out to be the case, then I think the workforce's confidence in the helicopter, travel will again hit an all-time low." | He told the BBC: "We need to wait and see what the accident investigation branch uncover but by these early reports, it appears that it is some sort of mechanical fault - and if that turns out to be the case, then I think the workforce's confidence in the helicopter, travel will again hit an all-time low." |
Airbus (formerly Eurocopter) EC225 Super Puma | Airbus (formerly Eurocopter) EC225 Super Puma |
Source: Airbus Helicopters |