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Eight dead and eight missing after North Sea Super Puma accident
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will resume the search for eight missing people at first light in the North Sea after the Super Puma they were travelling in crashed on Thursday.
The search operation was suspended at 10pm UK time. Earlier in the day, rescuers recovered eight bodies from the water.
Sixteen people were onboard the AS332L2 Super Puma, operated by Bond Offshore Helicopters when it came down shortly before 2pm. It is understood the aircraft was returning to Aberdeen's Dyce airport from BP's Miller platform when the accident happened.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) scrambled two RAF Sea Kings and a Nimrod patrol aircraft while RNLI lifeboats were also launched and several vessels steamed to the crash site some 35 miles north east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
At a press conference on Thursday evening, Scotland's first minister, Alec Salmond said the outlook for those missing was 'extremely bleak'.
This is the second accident involving a Bond Helicopters aircraft in less than two months.
In February, all 18 people onboard a Bond EC225 were rescued when the aircraft ditched whilst on approach to a production platform 120 miles east of Aberdeen.
Bond Offshore have set up a helpline for relatives: +44 (0)1224 836479
Rotorhub.com will continue to monitor and update this story throughout the day.
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