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Helicopter tragedy victims named Helicopter tragedy victims named
(about 1 hour later)
Six men killed in a helicopter crash over the Morecambe Bay gas field off the Lancashire coast have been named.Six men killed in a helicopter crash over the Morecambe Bay gas field off the Lancashire coast have been named.
Passengers Robert Warburton from Heysham, Leslie Ahmed from South Shields, John Shaw from Kirkcaldy and Alfred Neasham from Durham were killed. Rig workers Robert Warburton from Heysham, Leslie Ahmed from South Shields, John Shaw from Kirkcaldy and Alfred Neasham from Durham were killed.
Pilots Stephen Potton from Blackpool and Simon Foddering from Preston also died, and passenger Keith Smith from Stockton-on-Tees is still missing. Pilots Stephen Potton from Blackpool and Simon Foddering from Preston also died, and contractor Keith Smith from Stockton-on-Tees is still missing.
The wreckage and helicopter's data recorder have not yet been recovered.The wreckage and helicopter's data recorder have not yet been recovered.
Traumatised witnessTraumatised witness
The helicopter, which took off from Blackpool Airport, was on a routine flight between rigs for gas firm Centrica when it crashed into the sea 24 miles off the coast on Wednesday evening. The helicopter, which took off from Blackpool Airport, was on a routine flight between rigs for gas firm Centrica when it crashed into the sea 25 miles off the coast on Wednesday evening.
Lancashire Police say the helicopter, a Eurocopter AS365N, had flown to two gas rigs, and reared to the left and crashed 500 yards away from a third rig. No emergency call was received. Lancashire Police say the helicopter, a Eurocopter AS365N, had flown to two gas rigs and was on its way to a third when it "reared to the left" and ditched into the sea.
Three people on the third platform witnessed the incident, and one of them who was due to get on the helicopter was described by police as "traumatised" by what they witnessed. It crashed 500 yards away from the third rig. No emergency call was received.
Keith Mullett, from helicopter company CHC Scotia, said both pilots were experienced. Three people on the third platform witnessed the incident, and one of them who was due to board the helicopter was described by police as "traumatised".
Police said the weather was normal for the time of year and that the witnesses said they saw nothing unusual with the helicopter.
A search operation is ongoing but police say the likelihood of Mr Smith surviving is "slim".
Investigation launchedInvestigation launched
Keith Mullett, from helicopter company CHC Scotia, said both pilots were experienced.
He said the firm operated five Eurocopter AS365N helicopters - known as the "Dauphin" - in Europe, and the aircraft's safety record and performance in the fleet had been "excellent".
Mr Mullett said it was "extremely difficult" to say at this stage what had happened.
"The amount of information we have is extremely limited, the investigation is in its early stages. It is much too early to say or to speculate at all about what could have happened," he said.
Inquiry launched
Centrica's Sam Laidlaw said: "Our priority is to provide as much support as we can. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families at this terrible time."Centrica's Sam Laidlaw said: "Our priority is to provide as much support as we can. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families at this terrible time."
The Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into the incident. Mr Laidlaw said it was the first major incident to affect the company's operations in Morecambe Bay since they began 21 years ago.
The four dead passengers all worked for Centrica, and Mr Smith is an employee of one of its contractors, Costain Petrofac.
The Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) has launched an inquiry into the incident.
A rescue operation was launched involving RAF rescue helicopters from RAF Valley and RAF Leconfield, coastguard and RNLI crews, and a rig support vessel joined the search.A rescue operation was launched involving RAF rescue helicopters from RAF Valley and RAF Leconfield, coastguard and RNLI crews, and a rig support vessel joined the search.
Gas was discovered in the area in 1974 and extraction operations began 11 years later. There are about 143 Centrica staff working on the platforms at any one time.Gas was discovered in the area in 1974 and extraction operations began 11 years later. There are about 143 Centrica staff working on the platforms at any one time.
Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
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