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02/04/2009
'No Hope' For Remaining Helicopter Crash Crew
Police searching for a further eight passengers feared to be dead following a helicopter crash off the coast of Scotland have admitted they do not expect to find any survivors.
The bodies of eight people killed when the Bond Super Puma plunged into the sea 14 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast on Wednesday afternoon, arrived in the port. An extensive search for the remaining crew members started again at first light.
Sixteen passengers had been on board the aircraft which was flying back from the BP Miller platform, 168 miles north east of Aberdeen, when it crashed at around 2pm on Wednesday.
The 15 people have been named by Grampian Police. One person has still to be named.
The KCA Deutag employees killed were Brian Barkley, 30, of Aberdeen; Vernon Elrick, 41, of Aberdeen; Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore, Aberdeenshire; Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee; Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus; David Rae, 63, of Dumfries; Raymond Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld; James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool; and Nolan Carl Goble, 44, of Norwich.
The other named victims were James Costello, 24, of Aberdeen, who was contracted to Production Services Network (PSN); Alex Dallas, 62, of Aberdeen, who worked for Sparrows Offshore Services; Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, who worked for Weatherford UK; and Stuart Wood, 27, of Aberdeen, who worked for Expro North Sea Ltd.
Colin Menzies, from Grampian Police, said: "We know that there are vessels in the area continuing to search, but in the cold light of day we must face the grim reality that... the entire crew of 16 people have tragically been lost.
He added that half those on board were from Aberdeenshire and the impact on the local community was "tangible".
Four of the other members were from other parts of Scotland with another three from other parts of Britain, and one from Riga in Latvia.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
Scotland’s First Minister also said: "This is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families and their loved ones. The Miller field is one that’s very well known to me, as are many of the people who work on it.
"Our prayers are with the families, and we are also deeply grateful to our emergency and rescue services, although it looks as if their efforts are of no avail on this occasion.
"Tragically, we may be looking at all 16 souls lost."
A spokeswoman for BAA Aberdeen said it was understood the helicopter had issued a mayday near Peterhead then ditched into the water.
The incident comes just six weeks after a Bond Super Puma with 18 people on board ditched in the North Sea in February.
All those on board survived the crash on 18 February.
Meanwhile, a search for a training instructor and a student pilot belived killed in a helicopter crash in the Bog of Allen in Co Kildare, Ireland has today located wreckage.
The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Dublin Airport spotted the wreckage in an isolated area of bog near the Kildare-Meath border at around midday today.
The Irish Aviation Authority is co-ordinated an investigation into the crash.
See: Helicopter Crash Claims Two In Kildare
(JM/BMcC)
The bodies of eight people killed when the Bond Super Puma plunged into the sea 14 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast on Wednesday afternoon, arrived in the port. An extensive search for the remaining crew members started again at first light.
Sixteen passengers had been on board the aircraft which was flying back from the BP Miller platform, 168 miles north east of Aberdeen, when it crashed at around 2pm on Wednesday.
The 15 people have been named by Grampian Police. One person has still to be named.
The KCA Deutag employees killed were Brian Barkley, 30, of Aberdeen; Vernon Elrick, 41, of Aberdeen; Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore, Aberdeenshire; Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee; Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus; David Rae, 63, of Dumfries; Raymond Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld; James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool; and Nolan Carl Goble, 44, of Norwich.
The other named victims were James Costello, 24, of Aberdeen, who was contracted to Production Services Network (PSN); Alex Dallas, 62, of Aberdeen, who worked for Sparrows Offshore Services; Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, who worked for Weatherford UK; and Stuart Wood, 27, of Aberdeen, who worked for Expro North Sea Ltd.
Colin Menzies, from Grampian Police, said: "We know that there are vessels in the area continuing to search, but in the cold light of day we must face the grim reality that... the entire crew of 16 people have tragically been lost.
He added that half those on board were from Aberdeenshire and the impact on the local community was "tangible".
Four of the other members were from other parts of Scotland with another three from other parts of Britain, and one from Riga in Latvia.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
Scotland’s First Minister also said: "This is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families and their loved ones. The Miller field is one that’s very well known to me, as are many of the people who work on it.
"Our prayers are with the families, and we are also deeply grateful to our emergency and rescue services, although it looks as if their efforts are of no avail on this occasion.
"Tragically, we may be looking at all 16 souls lost."
A spokeswoman for BAA Aberdeen said it was understood the helicopter had issued a mayday near Peterhead then ditched into the water.
The incident comes just six weeks after a Bond Super Puma with 18 people on board ditched in the North Sea in February.
All those on board survived the crash on 18 February.
Meanwhile, a search for a training instructor and a student pilot belived killed in a helicopter crash in the Bog of Allen in Co Kildare, Ireland has today located wreckage.
The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Dublin Airport spotted the wreckage in an isolated area of bog near the Kildare-Meath border at around midday today.
The Irish Aviation Authority is co-ordinated an investigation into the crash.
See: Helicopter Crash Claims Two In Kildare
(JM/BMcC)
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Super Puma's Return To BP Operations
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Super Puma's Return To BP Operations
Oil firm BP has resumed its use of Super Puma helicopters today, following the North Sea crash in which 16 people died. Earlier this month, the aircraft were grounded by the European Aviation Safety Agency to allow safety inspections after the AS3332L2 model crashed on April 1.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
