The body of the fourth victim of a North Sea helicopter crash has been recovered from the aircraft wreckage.
Four people were killed when the Super Puma, operated by CHC for oil firm Total and carrying oil workers from the Borgsten Dolphin platform., plunged into the sea off Shetland on Friday evening after suffering a ‘catastrophic’ loss of power.
Rescuers recovered three bodies in the aftermath of the crash and the fourth was removed from the wreckage this afternoon.
This brings the total number of bodies recovered to four, with two people remaining in hospital in Lerwick with non-life threatening injuries. A further twelve people were released from hospital and returned to Aberdeen on Saturday 24 August.
Chief Inspector Angus MacInnes, from Police Scotland, said: “The fourth person was recovered from the wreckage a short time ago and we have deployed family liaison officers to support those who have lost loved ones. We are also working with the industry to help support all of those affected.
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; and 59-year-old Gary McCrossan, from Inverness.
Helicopter operator CHC said the aircraft lost communication as it approached the airport on the southern tip of Shetland’s main island.
One Total employee was on board and the remainder worked for contract companies, including those killed.
A team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has travelled to Aberdeen to carry out initial inquiries into the incident.
Jim Nicholson, RNLI rescue co-ordinator, said: ‘’There appears to have been a catastrophic loss of power which meant the helicopter suddenly dropped into the sea without any opportunity to make a controlled landing.’’
Industry body Oil & Gas UK has arranged a meeting of operators and major contractors tomorrow to discuss ways of minimising the impact of the suspension on the offshore workforce.
Scotland’s Finance Secretary John Swinney said he has been closely liaising with trade unions representatives about the safety of the helicopters.
Mr Swinney said of the grounding of Super Pumas: “We do not anticipate that this temporary suspension will have any immediate impact on the production of oil and gas in the North Sea, but we will continue to monitor this situation closely.
“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.”
A statement from Super Puma manufacturers Eurocopter said: “Eurocopter is supporting CHC and relevant authorities with their investigations.”
There have been five North Sea incidents involving Super Pumas since 2009. In April that year an AS332 L2, this time operated by Bond Offshore Helicopter, went down north east of Peterhead on its return from a BP Platform, killing all 14 passengers and two crew on board.
Pat Rafferty, Scottish secretary of the Unite union, said: ‘’This is the fifth major incident in the last four years involving Super Puma helicopters in the UK offshore industry and the second resulting in fatalities. It’s unacceptable and it can’t go on.”
Bob Crow, general secretary of offshore union RMT, said: “RMT and Unite have worked with all sectors of the industry to address the concerns of our members and rebuild that confidence. Last night’s events have undone all of that work and we anticipate an outpouring of anger.”
First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to the “brave and hard-working” people involved in the rescue effort.
He said: “Our thoughts at this difficult time are with the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.”
Tavish Scott, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland, said: “The families of those lost must know why this helicopter ditched very suddenly. There have been repeated serious and tragically fatal crashes involving Super Puma helicopters.
“The operators are right to ground the entire fleet. But there are now serious questions about why the Super Puma had been cleared to fly, given its tragic record in recent years.”
The flag above the Town House in Aberdeen – Europe’s oil capital – was being flown at half-mast yesterday as a mark of respect for those who died in the disaster.
Sunday 25 August 2013
http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/shetland-helicopter-crash-fourth-body-recovered-1-3060067
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