Morecambe Bay helo down
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Morecambe Bay helo down
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...,00.html?f=dta
From the Beeb:-
A major sea rescue attempt is under way, a spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
It is believed that a number of crew are missing. The area is being scoured by rescuers for survivors.
Michael Mulford, of the Royal Air Force Rescue Centre, said contact with the helicopter was lost at about 6pm and it was believed to have crashed in the water.
He told Sky News: "It is a major search and rescue operation at this point.
"We are looking for seven people who are almost certainly going to be in the water."
There were no immediate details on what type of helicopter it was or who was aboard.
Mr Mulford said rescue planes and boats had been dispatched to search for the wreckage and any survivors in the large bay just east of the Isle of Man.
He said: "It is generally calm and relatively quiet there. What we have are good searching conditions, albeit it is dark.
"It is bound to be very cold in the water at this point."
It is believed that a number of crew are missing. The area is being scoured by rescuers for survivors.
Michael Mulford, of the Royal Air Force Rescue Centre, said contact with the helicopter was lost at about 6pm and it was believed to have crashed in the water.
He told Sky News: "It is a major search and rescue operation at this point.
"We are looking for seven people who are almost certainly going to be in the water."
There were no immediate details on what type of helicopter it was or who was aboard.
Mr Mulford said rescue planes and boats had been dispatched to search for the wreckage and any survivors in the large bay just east of the Isle of Man.
He said: "It is generally calm and relatively quiet there. What we have are good searching conditions, albeit it is dark.
"It is bound to be very cold in the water at this point."
The aircraft is said to have been ferrying personnel from the gas field in the Lancashire bay.
A search for survivors involving two RAF rescue helicopters, lifeboats, coastguard crews and a rig support vessel is under way.
The daughter of one rig worker said he had phoned his wife to say the helicopter crashed at about 1740 GMT.
The helicopter crashed in the Irish sea en route to the gas rig platform in the bay.
Two helicopter crew members and five rig workers are now thought to be missing.
Michael Mulford, from the Royal Air Force Rescue Centre, said contact with the helicopter was lost at around 6pm and it is believed to have crashed into the water.
He told Sky News: "We are looking for seven people who are almost certainly going to be in the water."
It is understood that the helicopter crashed 20 miles off the Lancashire coast.
Mr Mulford added: "What we have are good searching conditions, albeit it is dark. It is bound to be very cold in the water at this point."
A search for survivors involving two RAF rescue helicopters, lifeboats, coastguard crews and a rig support vessel is under way.
The daughter of one rig worker said he had phoned his wife to say the helicopter crashed at about 1740 GMT.
The helicopter crashed in the Irish sea en route to the gas rig platform in the bay.
Two helicopter crew members and five rig workers are now thought to be missing.
Michael Mulford, from the Royal Air Force Rescue Centre, said contact with the helicopter was lost at around 6pm and it is believed to have crashed into the water.
He told Sky News: "We are looking for seven people who are almost certainly going to be in the water."
It is understood that the helicopter crashed 20 miles off the Lancashire coast.
Mr Mulford added: "What we have are good searching conditions, albeit it is dark. It is bound to be very cold in the water at this point."
Last edited by G-CPTN; 27th Dec 2006 at 20:01.
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My condolences to everyone my heart goes out to all the guys and girls at the heliport, they must be working very hard at this moment and hoping against hope. I can only hope they did not suffer.
I am thinking of you all.
I am thinking of you all.
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MCA Press Notice Posted on MCA site 21:59 GMT
At twenty minutes to seven this evening, Liverpool Coastguard received a distress call from the Rig Support Vessel Highland Sprite working in a gas field in the East Irish sea.
The vessel reported a helicopter ditching in the sea near one of the rigs. The helicopter had seven people on board; two crew and five passengers.
The Highland Sprite deployed its two fast rescue craft immediately to the position of the ditched helicopter.
Liverpool Coastguard requested a helicopter to be scrambled from RAF Valley; rescue helicopter R122 was quickly airborne.
Fleetwood and barrow RNLI lifeboats were also requested to launch to search the area.
CHC Helicopter Corporation - European Operations can confirm that there has been an incident involving one of its Eurocopter AS365N type aircraft near a platform in the East Irish Sea,
The appropriate authorities have been informed and the companys emergency response team has been mobilised. Further details will be released when more information becomes available.
The vessel reported a helicopter ditching in the sea near one of the rigs. The helicopter had seven people on board; two crew and five passengers.
The Highland Sprite deployed its two fast rescue craft immediately to the position of the ditched helicopter.
Liverpool Coastguard requested a helicopter to be scrambled from RAF Valley; rescue helicopter R122 was quickly airborne.
Fleetwood and barrow RNLI lifeboats were also requested to launch to search the area.
CHC Helicopter Corporation - European Operations can confirm that there has been an incident involving one of its Eurocopter AS365N type aircraft near a platform in the East Irish Sea,
The appropriate authorities have been informed and the companys emergency response team has been mobilised. Further details will be released when more information becomes available.
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Casualties confirmed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6213141.stm
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...245331,00.html
RIP
Thanks to those who tried to save these souls (and probably recovered their bodies).
Five bodies have been recovered from the sea following a helicopter crash off Morecambe Bay, police have said.
Police confirmed that five bodies had been found. The area is still being scoured by rescuers for survivors.
RIP
Thanks to those who tried to save these souls (and probably recovered their bodies).
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My Condolences
Very sad news. My thoughts go out to friends and family of those involved.
So far this thread has stayed away from speculation, please keep it that way. It is best for all involved.
So far this thread has stayed away from speculation, please keep it that way. It is best for all involved.
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No doubt the rumour mongers on tv and those 'experts' will spout more than enough sh*te!
Just very sad and too close to home, and not what you wish to hear about at anytime, more so at this time of year.
an 'expert' on Sky news reporting that safety training is done using 'makeshift' helicopter in a swimming pool. No doubt the media will have the cause discovered before morning.
Just very sad and too close to home, and not what you wish to hear about at anytime, more so at this time of year.
an 'expert' on Sky news reporting that safety training is done using 'makeshift' helicopter in a swimming pool. No doubt the media will have the cause discovered before morning.
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Expert Comments!
What about the daughter on BBC article stating how dangerous the helicopters are, even changing winds make them dangerous! I do wish such comments would not be used by reputable news companies. The guys at Blackpool are very experienced and very capable pilots. Any form of transport has inherent dangers. So it would be great to get a proper accurate account from someone who knows their stuff, rather than a relative of a passenger who has heard him talk about helicopters.
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Another tragic evening for the helicopter community. Condolenses to all those affected by this incident, including the guys at CHC Blackpool.
Agree with you 100% deltafree. It would also be better if they did their homework and got the correct library pictures out of the archieves.
Agree with you 100% deltafree. It would also be better if they did their homework and got the correct library pictures out of the archieves.