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Passengers safe after helicopter ditches into North Sea Passengers safe after helicopter ditches into North Sea
(12 days later)
All 19 people on board a helicopter which ditched in the North Sea on Monday afternoon are believed to be safe, Aberdeen coastguard said, but it is not yet known if anyone was injured.All 19 people on board a helicopter which ditched in the North Sea on Monday afternoon are believed to be safe, Aberdeen coastguard said, but it is not yet known if anyone was injured.
The incident happened about 32 miles south of Shetland, where the helicopter, a Super Puma EC225, made a controlled ditching into the sea. The alarm was raised at about 3.30pm.The incident happened about 32 miles south of Shetland, where the helicopter, a Super Puma EC225, made a controlled ditching into the sea. The alarm was raised at about 3.30pm.
CHC Helicopter, one of the largest helicopter companies, confirmed one of its aircraft was involved, but the precise details are not yet known.CHC Helicopter, one of the largest helicopter companies, confirmed one of its aircraft was involved, but the precise details are not yet known.
A spokesperson for CHC Helicopter said: "The appropriate authorities have been informed and the company's incident management team has been mobilised."A spokesperson for CHC Helicopter said: "The appropriate authorities have been informed and the company's incident management team has been mobilised."
Three Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats and three helicopters were involved in the rescue operation.Three Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats and three helicopters were involved in the rescue operation.
A spokesman for the Scottish government said: "We are aware that a helicopter has ditched in the North Sea, south of Sumburgh. And we understand that all 19 people on board are now safe and well following the dispatch of emergency services to the site.A spokesman for the Scottish government said: "We are aware that a helicopter has ditched in the North Sea, south of Sumburgh. And we understand that all 19 people on board are now safe and well following the dispatch of emergency services to the site.
"Scottish ministers are being kept updated on the situation and we will release further information when it becomes known.""Scottish ministers are being kept updated on the situation and we will release further information when it becomes known."
In May this year, all 14 passengers and crew members on a Super Puma helicopter were rescued after it ditched about 30 miles off the coast of Aberdeen. The helicopter was on a scheduled flight from Aberdeen airport to a platform in the North Sea.In May this year, all 14 passengers and crew members on a Super Puma helicopter were rescued after it ditched about 30 miles off the coast of Aberdeen. The helicopter was on a scheduled flight from Aberdeen airport to a platform in the North Sea.
At the same moment that the North Sea rescue was under way, representatives of the coastguard service were telling MPs that the closure of stations in Scotland risked lives.At the same moment that the North Sea rescue was under way, representatives of the coastguard service were telling MPs that the closure of stations in Scotland risked lives.
Aberdeen has recently merged with the Forth station that closed in late September – the first of a wave of planned closures that will see half of the UK's 19 regional coastal centres shut and a new national co-ordination centre at Fareham, Hampshire opened to replace them.Aberdeen has recently merged with the Forth station that closed in late September – the first of a wave of planned closures that will see half of the UK's 19 regional coastal centres shut and a new national co-ordination centre at Fareham, Hampshire opened to replace them.
However, coastguards said the ditching of the helicopter was not the kind of incident likely to cause problems under the planned new system, because of the level of technology and expertise on such flights. Helicopter mayday calls are usually relayed by air traffic controllers to relevant coastguards to scramble their own rescue helicopters and lifeboats.However, coastguards said the ditching of the helicopter was not the kind of incident likely to cause problems under the planned new system, because of the level of technology and expertise on such flights. Helicopter mayday calls are usually relayed by air traffic controllers to relevant coastguards to scramble their own rescue helicopters and lifeboats.
Alex Todge, a watch officer at Shetland, which launched rescue, warned it could be a very different picture with boats in distress. Shetland was reprieved from planned closure after an outcry last year. Local knowledge, she said, could often be crucial.Alex Todge, a watch officer at Shetland, which launched rescue, warned it could be a very different picture with boats in distress. Shetland was reprieved from planned closure after an outcry last year. Local knowledge, she said, could often be crucial.
Giving evidence to MPs on the Commons transport select committee, she said: "It's knowing not just names of places but the team you're going to send out, the conditions, what lifeboat can work. That gives you scope to make quick decisions. Otherwise people lose their lives."Giving evidence to MPs on the Commons transport select committee, she said: "It's knowing not just names of places but the team you're going to send out, the conditions, what lifeboat can work. That gives you scope to make quick decisions. Otherwise people lose their lives."
Sir Alan Massey, head of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said response times under the new centralised system would be "of an order" similar to the current times, but admitted he had envisaged circumstances where there could be a 10-minute delay if operators did not have sufficient local knowledge.Sir Alan Massey, head of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said response times under the new centralised system would be "of an order" similar to the current times, but admitted he had envisaged circumstances where there could be a 10-minute delay if operators did not have sufficient local knowledge.
The cuts are being made to find £7.4m of savings under the coalition's spending review.The cuts are being made to find £7.4m of savings under the coalition's spending review.
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