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Crew and passengers safe after North Sea ditching
Rescuers have safely recovered all 18 passengers and crew of a helicopter after it ditched in the North Sea.
The rescue operation was launched after the Super Puma, operated by Bond Offshore ditched at around 6.40pm whilst on approach to an ETAP production platform 120 miles east of Aberdeen.
The helicopter was carrying two crew and 16 passengers.
People on board the installation saw the incident unfold, and reported it to the Coastguard. They dispatched a single Sea King from RAF Lossiemouth, and a Nimrod patrol aircraft from RAF Kinloss. They were joined by at least two other offshore support helicopters including the Project Jigsaw aircraft offshore rescue helicopters operated by Bond.
Three of those onboard were rescued by a Bond helicopter while the other 15 were recovered by a platform lifeboat and taken to the installation.
Rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather conditions, with 1/2 mile of visibility and cloudbase below the height of the helidecks on the oil rigs.
It is understood the passengers and crew were rescued from two liferafts. The helicopter was reported to be still floating, with its tailboom detached.
The coastguard said that no serious injuries have been reported though there were some with minor injuries, described as walking wounded.
The helicopter crash survivors later landed at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Internet rumour boards suggest the ditched aircraft is one of Bond's recently delivered EC225s, registered G-REDU. The aircraft joined the company in May 2008.
By Tony Osborne - Rotorhub.com Editorial Team
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