This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7997950.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Helicopter crash victims honoured Helicopter crash victims honoured
(21 minutes later)
A memorial service for the 16 men who died in the North Sea helicopter crash disaster is being held.A memorial service for the 16 men who died in the North Sea helicopter crash disaster is being held.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Prince Charles are among about 1,000 people, including many relatives, at the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen. Prince Charles and Prime Minister Gordon Brown are among about 1,000 people at the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen.
A screen has been erected on Union Street to relay the service outside. A candle was lit in memory of each of the men who died.
The memorial, which started at 1400 BST, is being broadcast live on BBC Two Scotland, BBC Radio Scotland Medium Wave and on the BBC news website.The memorial, which started at 1400 BST, is being broadcast live on BBC Two Scotland, BBC Radio Scotland Medium Wave and on the BBC news website.
Camilla, Duchess of Rothesay, and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond are also in attendance. Camilla, Duchess of Rothesay, and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond are also in attendance, as are about 100 workers from the Miller platform, where the helicopter was returning from.
Alex Salmond, Gordon Brown, Camilla and Prince Charles attendedAlex Salmond, Gordon Brown, Camilla and Prince Charles attended
A screen was erected on Union Street to relay the service outside.
The service is being conducted by the Rev Andrew Jolly, chaplain to the North Sea oil and gas industry.The service is being conducted by the Rev Andrew Jolly, chaplain to the North Sea oil and gas industry.
He told those directly affected: "Your sorrow is our sorrow too." Opening the service, he said: "This occasion must be for us all today a time of great sadness and sorrow.
He said of the tragedy: "People feel this very deeply and this city has taken this industry to its heart. "Those of us here and those who join us outside and offshore and around the world cannot begin to imagine the pain and sorrow the relatives of those who perished on April 1, 2009 must be feeling at this time.
"This is an opportunity for us to come together and share our grief, so we can go forward." "But as we gather here today, representatives of the oil and gas industry, the Miller installation, the wider community of Aberdeen and the nation as a whole, we want all of you to know that your loss is our loss, that your sorrow is our sorrow too and as we share that with you we want you to know that you can look to us in the days, months and years ahead for comfort, for love but most of all for support."
About 100 workers from the Miller platform, where the helicopter was returning from, are also there. Mr Jolly said he would fly out to the Miller platform on Thursday to conduct a further memorial for those who could not attend.
Mr Jolly said he would fly out to the platform on Thursday to conduct a further memorial for those who could not attend.
Wednesday's service is also honouring a 17th man who died in an unrelated offshore accident on the same day as the Bond Super Puma accident. David Stephenson, 44, of Willow Bridge, Northumberland, was a crewman on the Well Servicer, operated by Technip.Wednesday's service is also honouring a 17th man who died in an unrelated offshore accident on the same day as the Bond Super Puma accident. David Stephenson, 44, of Willow Bridge, Northumberland, was a crewman on the Well Servicer, operated by Technip.
The Super Puma helicopter had been returning from BP's Miller oil platform when it crashed about 11 miles north east of Peterhead on 1 April.The Super Puma helicopter had been returning from BP's Miller oil platform when it crashed about 11 miles north east of Peterhead on 1 April.
Those who died in North Sea crash Those who died in North Sea crash
All 14 passengers and two crew members on board were killed.All 14 passengers and two crew members on board were killed.
Eight of the victims came from the north east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia.Eight of the victims came from the north east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia.
Early discussions have taken place on a possible permanent memorial for the victims of the Super Puma crash.Early discussions have taken place on a possible permanent memorial for the victims of the Super Puma crash.
The matter will be discussed by the newly-formed Helicopter Accident Issues Task Group.The matter will be discussed by the newly-formed Helicopter Accident Issues Task Group.
On Tuesday, Grampian Police said the bodies of 13 of the victims were being returned to their families. They said the other three would be released as soon as possible.On Tuesday, Grampian Police said the bodies of 13 of the victims were being returned to their families. They said the other three would be released as soon as possible.
The wreckage was recovered from the seabed. It included the black box flight recorder, the fuselage with the engines and rotor gearbox attached, the separated rotor head with the main rotor blades still attached, and the separated tail.The wreckage was recovered from the seabed. It included the black box flight recorder, the fuselage with the engines and rotor gearbox attached, the separated rotor head with the main rotor blades still attached, and the separated tail.
An initial report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch found the helicopter had suffered a "catastrophic" failure in its main rotor gearbox.An initial report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch found the helicopter had suffered a "catastrophic" failure in its main rotor gearbox.