North Sea Crash: 4 Dead, AS332-L2 Super Puma Grounded
Offshore transport services firm CHC Helicopter reported Saturday that it has temporarily suspended all of its AS332-L2 Super Puma helicopters worldwide after Friday's crash in the North Sea that left four people dead.
Sixteen passengers and two crew members were on board the aircraft, said CHC. The firm added that 17 people, including three of the dead, have been accounted for, while one remains missing.
The helicopter, carrying oil and gas workers, was on approach to Sumburgh Airport on the Shetland Islands when it lost contact with air traffic control. According to CHC, it landed in the water approximately two nautical miles west of Sumburgh.
The Maritime Coastguard Helicopter from Sumburgh along with other rescue services promptly responded to the scene, CHC said.
The AS332-L2 Super Puma had travelled from Aberdeen to the North Alwyn platform and then on to the Borgsten Dolphin (mid-water semisub) rig before heading towards Sumburgh.
Total E&P UK issued a statement confirming that one of its employees was among the passengers and that other passengers represented 12 separate contractor organizations. The statement said that nine injured people were taken to hospital in Lerwick, Shetland, for treatment and that none of these is believed to be seriously injured.
Total said in addition to its emergency response, crisis management and relative response teams being mobilized Friday evening, "all necessary resources have been made available to provide every possible support and assistance to those who had been on board the flight and their families".
CHC Regional Director for the western North Sea Mark Abbey said at a press conference Saturday:
"CHC will not enter into any speculation as to what caused the incident but rest assured a full investigation will be carried out in which we will co-operate fully with all the regulatory bodies and share any learnings with the industry."
In a separate statement issued by trade body Oil & Gas UK, Chief Executive Malcolm Webb said:
"Oil & Gas UK expresses its profound sorrow at the news of the deaths and injuries resulting from yesterday's helicopter ditching off Shetland. Our thoughts are first and foremost with all who were on this flight, their families and their friends and we send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of all of those who have so tragically lost their lives.
"We also wish to thank and acknowledge all those persons involved in the, still continuing, search and rescue operation. Their prompt, professional action no doubt saved many lives and for that we are sincerely thankful."
Oil & Gas UK added that the Helicopter Safety Steering Group met Saturday afternoon to discuss the accident and has taken the precautionary measure of recommending temporary suspension of all Super Puma commercial passenger flights to and from offshore oil and gas installations in the UK.
The incident occurred just two weeks after a different variant of the Super Puma, the EC225, returned to service after problems with the helicopter’s main vertical gear shaft caused two ditchings last year.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- ITEM Club: More Jobs Losses Expected in NE Scotland due to Oil Slump
- Shell Q&A: What Makes an Ideal Employer in Oil, Gas?
- Shell Takes First Place in Rigzone's Inaugural Ideal Employer Survey
- UK Government 'Must Recommit' to Oil, Gas Sector in Autumn Statement
- UK Government Gives Go-Ahead for Fracking in NW England
- ExxonMobil Racks Up Discoveries in Guyana Block Eyed by Chevron
- Oil Market Sentiment Has Improved Significantly
- EU, US Eye Collaboration on Nuclear Materials
- USA Driving Activity to Increase to All-Time Highs
- TC Energy to Sell Prince Rupert Gas Pipeline Project to First Nation
- EU Electricity Export to Ukraine Up 94 Percent in Two Years
- China Coal Output Falls for First Time since Government Ordered More
- BP Pulse Buys One of Europe's Largest Truck Stops
- UK CCUS Plans Outdated: Think Tank
- North America Enters Rig Loss Streak
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- EIA Drops 2024 Henry Hub Gas Price Forecast
- EIA and Standard Chartered Offer Up Latest Oil Price Predictions
- Red Sea Region Sees Another Watershed Incident
- Chevron Oil Project in Kazakhstan to Cost $48.5B
- OPEC Voices Encouragement after IEA Affirms Support for Oil Security
- Biden Govt Bares Strategy for Freight Charging, Hydrogen Fueling Infra
- Ukraine Hits Third Russian Refinery In Escalating Drone Strikes
- Rystad Looks at the Buzz Around White Hydrogen
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Is Peak Oil Demand Close?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Reveal Latest Oil Price Forecasts
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Rystad Forecasts Net Production of Top Permian Producers in 2024
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension