6 rescued in Norway’s helicopter crash

The accident leads to the suspension of the use of that type of helicopter by the Norwegian oil and gas industry

A helicopter carrying six people crash-landed in the ocean off the coast of western Norway Wednesday, and all those on board were later hoisted from the sea, the country’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centres said.

Haukeland University Hospital, the region’s largest, said it had received all six patients from the accident but that their medical condition was unclear.

The helicopter belonged to Bristow Norway, the company’s country manager, Heidi Wulff Heimark, told the daily Stavanger Aftenblad.

Bristow Norway transports crew to and from oil and gas platforms in the North Sea.

It was not immediately clear which type of helicopter was involved. Bristow was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters.

The area had been experiencing high winds at the time of the accident, a rescue service official told broadcaster TV2.

Air traffic data showed several rescue helicopters circling near an island west of Bergen, Norway’s second-biggest city and a busy hub for the Norwegian offshore oil and gas industry.

In 2016, an Airbus AIR.PA Super Puma helicopter returning from the North Sea crashed in roughly the same area, killing all 13 people aboard.

The accident led to the suspension of the use of that type of helicopter by the Norwegian oil and gas industry.

Source: Reuters

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