14 rescued after helicopter ditches - The Press Association

(UKPA) – 52 minutes ago 

All of the passengers and crew from a helicopter that ditched in the North Sea have arrived safely back on land after air and sea rescues.

Fourteen people - 12 passengers and two crew - were on board the aircraft when it came down 25 miles (40km) off the coast of Aberdeen shortly after midday. Everyone on board was recovered from the sea and put in life rafts.

Nine men were flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary while the remaining five were taken to Aberdeen by lifeboat. One man is being detained at the hospital while all the others have been discharged or are not expected.

The EC225 Super Puma helicopter, operated by Bond Offshore, had been on its way from Aberdeen to the offshore Maersk Resilient rig and the Ensco 102 rig. Rig operator Conoco Phillips said the passengers were contractors on their way to support the drilling rigs.

A Bond spokesman said: "A low pressure oil warning light came on and the helicopter made a controlled descent and landed in the North Sea. It didn't crash."

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Incidents such as these remain very rare but do serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those offshore workers who are required to use helicopters on a regular basis.

"Once all of those involved have been transferred ashore, the priority will be for the appropriate authorities to investigate the causes of this accident and ensure the future safety of flying operations in the North Sea."

Jim McAuslan, general secretary of pilots' union Balpa, praised the helicopter's pilots, saying it "looks like a terrific piece of airmanship from very skilled pilots".

But RMT union general secretary Bob Crow said the incident "shines the spotlight yet again on the issue of safety in our offshore industry".

Mr Crow said: "RMT's offshore branch will play a full role in the investigation which once again involves Bond Helicopters, the owners of the craft that crashed in April 2009 with the loss of 16 lives. This ditching incident shines the spotlight yet again on the issue of safety in our offshore industry and raises fundamental questions that must be addressed by both the companies and the safety authorities."

Copyright © 2012 The Press Association. All rights reserved.