PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland - 18 aboard, March 2009
Old 12th Mar 2009, 15:24
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green granite
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Helicopter crash off Canada coast

from the Beeb.
A helicopter has ditched in Atlantic waters off Canada's easternmost province of Newfoundland, reports say.

A local rescue co-ordinator told news agencies that 18 people were on board at the time of the incident.

He said two people had been spotted in the water, along with a life raft - but there was no sign of the helicopter.

A search-and-rescue operation is under way. Military and rescue helicopters are heading to the scene, along with a coast guard ship and merchant ship.

The helicopter was said to have been ferrying workers to the Hibernia offshore oil platform.

It reportedly ditched 47 nautical miles (54 miles; 87km) south-east of St John's, capital of Newfoundland.

Gerry Grychowski of the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax said said winds were fairly strong in the area, with 1.8m-2.7m (6-9ft) waves.

Dave Bowen, also of the centre, said a mayday call had been issued just before 0800 EST (1300 GMT).
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