LONDRA - Un elicottero Bond Super Puma con circa 16 persone a bordo è precipitato verso le 14 ora locale al largo delle coste scozzesi, a 35 miglia dalla contea del Aberdeenshire. L'elicottero era di ritorno da una piattaforma petrolifera del mare del Nord. Due elicotteri della Raf sono stati immediatamente inviati sul luogo dell'incidente insieme a un aeroplano Nimrod della marina militare britannica. Non è ancora chiaro il numero delle persone coinvolte nell'incidente. Secondo alcuni media britannici, infatti, a bordo dell'elicottero vi erano 20 persone.
GB, elicottero precipita nel mare del Nord
- Autore Discussione Mikkio
- Data d'inizio
Vidi una puntata di AirDisaster su un avvenimento simile... Però mi pare si salvarono tutti allora....
Speriamo che sia così anche questa volta...
Speriamo che sia così anche questa volta...
Si tratta di un Super Puma della Bond Helicopters, 16 gli occupanti e tutti al momento dispersi. Lo scorso mese un altro Super Puma sempre Bond era finito in mare durante l'avvicinamento finale ad una piattaforma nel Mare del Nord. E'il terzo incidente fatale che colpisce il settore offshore negli ultimi due mesi. 
Stavolta è andata proprio male... dalla BBC:
Eight dead as helicopter crashes
At least eight people have died after a helicopter with 16 people on board crashed into the North Sea.
A major search was launched after the Bond Super Puma came down about 15 miles off Peterhead on the Aberdeenshire coast, at about 1400 BST.
Police later said eight bodies had been recovered and the eight others were still missing.
The crashed helicopter was returning from BP's Miller field, 168 miles north east of Aberdeen.
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said three helicopters and a Nimrod had been sent to the scene.
He said: "We understand there was a mayday call involving this helicopter and then silence.
"That is an ominous combination."
The crash comes less than two months after a Super Puma helicopter with 18 people on board ditched in the Etap field 125 miles east of Aberdeen.
All those on board survived the crash on 18 February.
Helicopter operator Bond confirmed one of its aircraft was involved in the latest incident. It carried 14 passengers and two crew.
Two liferafts were spotted in the water, and were both overturned. All on board would have been wearing survival suits.
Head of fleet operations at the RNLI, Hugh Fogarty, said weather conditions in the area were believed to be good.
He added that the temperature in the North Sea was thought to be around 5C at this time of year.
"People who travel on these helicopters to and from the rigs wear proper immersion suits," he added.
"The survival time, with the proper equipment, could be a number of hours. We are certainly not giving up hope yet."
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond described the chances for survivors as "extremely bleak".
Eight dead as helicopter crashes
At least eight people have died after a helicopter with 16 people on board crashed into the North Sea.
A major search was launched after the Bond Super Puma came down about 15 miles off Peterhead on the Aberdeenshire coast, at about 1400 BST.
Police later said eight bodies had been recovered and the eight others were still missing.
The crashed helicopter was returning from BP's Miller field, 168 miles north east of Aberdeen.
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said three helicopters and a Nimrod had been sent to the scene.
He said: "We understand there was a mayday call involving this helicopter and then silence.
"That is an ominous combination."
The crash comes less than two months after a Super Puma helicopter with 18 people on board ditched in the Etap field 125 miles east of Aberdeen.
All those on board survived the crash on 18 February.
Helicopter operator Bond confirmed one of its aircraft was involved in the latest incident. It carried 14 passengers and two crew.
Two liferafts were spotted in the water, and were both overturned. All on board would have been wearing survival suits.
Head of fleet operations at the RNLI, Hugh Fogarty, said weather conditions in the area were believed to be good.
He added that the temperature in the North Sea was thought to be around 5C at this time of year.
"People who travel on these helicopters to and from the rigs wear proper immersion suits," he added.
"The survival time, with the proper equipment, could be a number of hours. We are certainly not giving up hope yet."
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond described the chances for survivors as "extremely bleak".