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| Super Puma helicopter flights suspended after Shetland crash | Super Puma helicopter flights suspended after Shetland crash |
| (25 days later) | |
| All Super Puma flights to and from UK offshore installations have been suspended after Friday's incident when a helicopter flying oil workers plunged into the North Sea off Shetland, killing four people. | All Super Puma flights to and from UK offshore installations have been suspended after Friday's incident when a helicopter flying oil workers plunged into the North Sea off Shetland, killing four people. |
| Helicopter operator CHC has grounded the AS332 L2 aircraft, which ditched without warning while carrying 18 workers, and suspended all UK commercial flights of three other Super Puma models following a recommendation from an aviation safety association. | Helicopter operator CHC has grounded the AS332 L2 aircraft, which ditched without warning while carrying 18 workers, and suspended all UK commercial flights of three other Super Puma models following a recommendation from an aviation safety association. |
| The offshore industry's Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) urged the precautionary measure until there is "sufficient factual information" to resume flights. | The offshore industry's Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) urged the precautionary measure until there is "sufficient factual information" to resume flights. |
| Rescuers are yet to recover one of the bodies from the site of the crash, about two miles west of Sumburgh airport. The cause of the accident is not yet known. | Rescuers are yet to recover one of the bodies from the site of the crash, about two miles west of Sumburgh airport. The cause of the accident is not yet known. |
| Those who died have been named as Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham; George Allison, 57, from Winchester, Hampshire; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin in the Highlands and 59-year-old Gary McCrossan, from Inverness. | Those who died have been named as Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham; George Allison, 57, from Winchester, Hampshire; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin in the Highlands and 59-year-old Gary McCrossan, from Inverness. |
| The helicopter, operated by CHC for oil company Total, was transporting workers from the Borgsten Dolphin platform when it experienced a catastrophic loss of power as it approached the airport on the southern tip of Shetland's main island. The HSSG is made up of representatives from oil and gas firms, contractors, helicopter operators, offshore unions, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). | The helicopter, operated by CHC for oil company Total, was transporting workers from the Borgsten Dolphin platform when it experienced a catastrophic loss of power as it approached the airport on the southern tip of Shetland's main island. The HSSG is made up of representatives from oil and gas firms, contractors, helicopter operators, offshore unions, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). |
| The group met in Aberdeen on Saturday and recommended the temporary suspension of all Super Puma commercial passenger flights to and from the UK's oil and gas installations. This includes the AS332 L, L1, L2 and EC225 models. | The group met in Aberdeen on Saturday and recommended the temporary suspension of all Super Puma commercial passenger flights to and from the UK's oil and gas installations. This includes the AS332 L, L1, L2 and EC225 models. |
| CHC said it was "devastated" by the accident and would follow the recommendation, which allows for the operation of emergency rescue flights. | CHC said it was "devastated" by the accident and would follow the recommendation, which allows for the operation of emergency rescue flights. |
| Fellow operators Bond Offshore Helicopters and Bristow have also temporarily suspended Super Puma flights. Bristow said three flights scheduled for Sunday had been cancelled and further updates would be issued in due course. | Fellow operators Bond Offshore Helicopters and Bristow have also temporarily suspended Super Puma flights. Bristow said three flights scheduled for Sunday had been cancelled and further updates would be issued in due course. |
| The HSSG will meet again on Wednesday to review the suspension unless "any significant information come to light before this date". | The HSSG will meet again on Wednesday to review the suspension unless "any significant information come to light before this date". |
| Industry body Oil & Gas UK has meanwhile arranged a meeting of operators and major contractors today to discuss ways of minimising the impact of the grounding of flights on the offshore workforce. | Industry body Oil & Gas UK has meanwhile arranged a meeting of operators and major contractors today to discuss ways of minimising the impact of the grounding of flights on the offshore workforce. |
| Scotland's finance secretary John Swinney said the government did not anticipate that the temporary suspension would have any immediate impact on the production of oil and gas in the North Sea but that the situation would be closely monitored. | Scotland's finance secretary John Swinney said the government did not anticipate that the temporary suspension would have any immediate impact on the production of oil and gas in the North Sea but that the situation would be closely monitored. |
| "My thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives and I hope those who were injured make a good recovery," he said. | "My thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives and I hope those who were injured make a good recovery," he said. |
| Of the 14 survivors, two remain in hospital on Shetland and 12 returned to Aberdeen on Saturday. One Total employee was on board while the remainder worked for contract companies, including the deceased. | Of the 14 survivors, two remain in hospital on Shetland and 12 returned to Aberdeen on Saturday. One Total employee was on board while the remainder worked for contract companies, including the deceased. |
| Munro leaves behind wife Penny and 12-year-old daughter Katie. His family said in a statement: "He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him and his death will leave a large void in a lot of people's lives." | Munro leaves behind wife Penny and 12-year-old daughter Katie. His family said in a statement: "He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him and his death will leave a large void in a lot of people's lives." |
| Darnley's mother Anne said: "We are shocked by the sudden loss of Sarah, who was a fun-loving free spirit who will be sorely missed." | Darnley's mother Anne said: "We are shocked by the sudden loss of Sarah, who was a fun-loving free spirit who will be sorely missed." |
| McCrossan worked for Stork Technical Services. Mike Mann, a senior vice-president at the firm, said: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to Gary's family and to all of those affected by this tragedy." | McCrossan worked for Stork Technical Services. Mike Mann, a senior vice-president at the firm, said: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to Gary's family and to all of those affected by this tragedy." |
| Allison had been working at the Offshore Dunbar platform as a project safety supervisor for just over a year when he was killed, according to his LinkedIn profile. | Allison had been working at the Offshore Dunbar platform as a project safety supervisor for just over a year when he was killed, according to his LinkedIn profile. |
| A team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has travelled to Aberdeen to carry out initial inquiries into the incident. Super Puma manufacturers Eurocopter said the company was "supporting CHC and relevant authorities with their investigations". | A team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has travelled to Aberdeen to carry out initial inquiries into the incident. Super Puma manufacturers Eurocopter said the company was "supporting CHC and relevant authorities with their investigations". |
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