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Storms to hamper air crash probe Storms delay helicopter inquiry
(about 11 hours later)
Poor weather is expected to delay the investigation into a helicopter crash over Morecambe Bay gas field. The investigation into a helicopter crash over Morecambe Bay is being delayed by storms and may not resume until next week at the earliest.
A spokesman for HM Coastguard in Liverpool said storms forecast for the next two days may hamper the search for the helicopter's flight recorder. Gale force winds on Friday prevented the search for the flight recorder, said a spokesman for HM Coastguard.
The bodies of six men - two pilots and four rig workers - have been found, while a seventh man is still missing. The bodies of six men - two pilots and four gas rig workers - have been found. A search for a further missing man has been called off.
The search was called off on Thursday and the coastguard said it would not resume because so much time had passed. Police said they were hopeful the body of Keith Smith, 57, may still be found.
But he said transit vessels such as the Manx ferries would still be keeping a look-out for the missing passenger, Keith Smith, 57, from Stockton-on-Tees. We are looking into the possibility that Mr Smith may be contained in the helicopter wreckage Det Supt Mick Gradwell
"Ideally, the search today (Friday) would focus on finding the black box, but it looks as though the weather will curtail that," he said. The search for Mr Smith, from Stockton-on-Tees, was called off on Thursday and the coastguard said it would not resume because so much time had passed.
He said the Met Office had forecast force six to eight winds, occasionally rising to severe gale force nine for the next 24 hours, with the following day seeing force six to eight, increasing to storm 10 at times. Det Supt Mick Gradwell said his body may be contained in the helicopter wreckage and the search would resume when the weather improved.
"It would be too risky to send people out searching in those conditions, so unfortunately that will probably have to wait." The HM Coastguard spokesman said on Friday: "We cannot send anyone out today because the conditions are near gale force and it is set to deteriorate further this weekend."
The Met Office says gale force nine winds are expected within the next 24 hours with storm force 10 predicted the following day.
"I think it is likely that the Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) will not be able to search for wreckage until the beginning of next week at the earliest," the coastguard spokesman added.
The six men confirmed dead include Centrica-employed rig workers Robert Warburton, 60, from Heysham, Leslie Ahmed, 48, from South Shields, John Shaw, 51, from Kirkcaldy, and Alfred Neasham, 57, from Durham.The six men confirmed dead include Centrica-employed rig workers Robert Warburton, 60, from Heysham, Leslie Ahmed, 48, from South Shields, John Shaw, 51, from Kirkcaldy, and Alfred Neasham, 57, from Durham.
Pilots Stephen Potton, 51, from Blackpool and Simon Foddering, 33, from Preston, also died.Pilots Stephen Potton, 51, from Blackpool and Simon Foddering, 33, from Preston, also died.
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. The Eurocopter AS365N 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 said the helicopter, a Eurocopter AS365N, had flown to two rigs and was on its way to a third when it "veered to the left" and ditched into the sea. No emergency call was received before it crashed 500 yards away from the third rig. The AAIB launched an inquiry into the incident, the cause of which is not yet known.
No emergency call was received before it crashed 500 yards away from the third rig. The Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) launched an inquiry into the incident, the cause of which is not yet known.
'Clinging to hope''Clinging to hope'
The families and friends of the victims have been paying tribute to their loved ones.The families and friends of the victims have been paying tribute to their loved ones.
The family of pilot Mr Potton said he was "immediately liked and loved" by all who met him.
Mr Shaw's wife Deirdra said her husband - known to friends as Jake - would be "sorely missed by everyone who knew him".Mr Shaw's wife Deirdra said her husband - known to friends as Jake - would be "sorely missed by everyone who knew him".
Mr Neasham's daughter Jill said her family would "never come to terms" with the death of her father.Mr Neasham's daughter Jill said her family would "never come to terms" with the death of her father.
Neighbours of Mr Foddering, 33, described him as a "fantastic guy" and a "devoted father", and relatives of 51-year-old Mr Potton said they were devastated. Neighbours of Mr Foddering described him as a "fantastic guy" and a "devoted father" and the family of Mr Ahmed said he would be "sadly missed".
The family of Mr Warburton, 60, asked to be left alone to grieve in peace.The family of Mr Warburton, 60, asked to be left alone to grieve in peace.
A Cleveland Police spokesman said friends and family of missing Mr Smith - an employee of Centrica contractor Costain Petrofac - were "clinging to the hope that he will be found safe and well".