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hope all turns out well

http://www.ntlworld.com/partners/itn...in/1573386.php

Quote:

A Royal Navy Lynx helicopter with four people on board has crashed off the south-west coast of England.

A major search is underway, a spokesman for the Royal Air Force said.

The helicopter went missing during a rout9ine flight, 40 kms (25 miles) off the Lizard peninsular in Cornwall.

The spokesman said: "There is a major search underway for four people.

"It involves two Royal Navy helicopters from Culdrose and an RAF Sea King (helicopter) from Chivenor with infrared cameras which will aid the search considerably."

A French Falcon aircraft and two British frigates are also involved, he added.

Royal Navy Lynx missing 30 miles off Cornish coast

As an ex Lynx Obs, my fingers are crossed for a happy outcome, Thoughts have to go out to the families at times like these

RN Lynx was HMS PORTLAND flight

PA News

Quote:

Search Stepped Up for Missing Helicopter Crew

Quote:

A major search for four missing crew of a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter that apparently crashed into the sea was being stepped up again this morning.

Contact with the aircraft was lost just after 7pm last night as it carried out a sweep 19 miles off Lizard Point, Cornwall.

It had been scrambled after two Navy ratings on board the frigate HMS Montrose heard cries for help coming from the water.

A search and rescue operation to find the Lynx continued through the night but three military helicopters taking part had to return to base at 3.30am to refuel, Falmouth Coastguard said.

The helicopters, two from RNAS Culdrose near Helston, Cornwall, and one with infra-red imaging equipment from RAF Chivenor in Devon, were to resume searching from first light at 7.30am.

Aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was co-ordinating operations at sea, aided by HMS Montrose and HMS St Albans.

The all-weather lifeboat from Falmouth was also dispatched to join the search last night and stayed out until 1am, the coastguard spokesman said.

A Royal Navy spokesman said that the missing aircraft was from the Royal Naval Air Station in Yeovilton, Somerset.

The families of the crew members were last night being informed of the operation to try to rescue their relatives.

But as the hours passed fears were growing for the missing crew members.

A spokesman for RAF Kinloss, from where the operation was being co-ordinated, said last night: “As every hour goes by you have to be realistic about it.

“But what fires rescue teams to keep going is the thought that people can, and people do, survive against the odds.”

He continued: “What we don’t know is whether they were able to control their landing on the water or whether it was something that happened very quickly.”

He said the helicopter had been responding to reports of a man overboard. But the Montrose and St Albans later reported all personnel accounted for.

A French warship was in the area and had also said it had accounted for its personnel.

Commander John Parris, Royal Navy spokesman, told Sky News: “The helicopter is thought to have crashed into the sea.

“Our thoughts tonight are with the naval aviation community.”

Cmdr Parris said that no SOS call had been made from the stricken aircraft but that it had disappeared from radar.

Radio 2 news reported the Lynx was from Yeovilton...

Fingers crossed for all on board, as well as their friends, colleagues and families.

Best of luck to the search crews.

G

My thoughts are with the families of the missing crew, their oppos on 815 Sqn and the crew of HMS Portland.
Was a long night and the SAR crews did a great job as usual.

Air search resumed at first light. Everything crossed here.

Lynx was based at Yeovilton and operating from HMS Portland.

Investigation is now under way so please keep supposition under control until the facts are known.

Thanks

Wreckage found - TBC it's from the Lynx.

Still keeping it all crossed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4080943.stm

Flying over the sea at night brings its own hazards.

My thoughts and prayers are there with the crew, families and oppos.

Mine are crossed too, but sadly it's not looking good - some wreckage has been found:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4080943.stm

Still hoping ...

Very sad. I hope something good can come of this worrying turn of events.

As already written, thoughts to the families.

BL

Our thoughts and condolences to the families of our esteemed colleagues and friends.

be sure we'll be raising a glass to you over the coming weeks.

VFTC

BBC reporting wreckage of Lynx located on seabed.

Latest reports are that the wreckage has been located on the sea-bed. But still no info with regard to the crew, does not look good though.:(

Apparently the Lynx was at low level searching for a false MOB. You can never take chances but the navy has routines for doing an MOB roll call in less than 5 minutes, less time than it takes to lower the sea boat, so I'm surprised it got that far. Everything crossed for the crew and families concerned and thanks to the French for chipping in.

Hoping for the best but the b&*%$y Lynx floats like a large rock, fingers crossed.

Navaleye,

It is my understanding that shouts were audible out to sea from the frigates in the area, so a 'possible' mob was called. Military assets in the area did confirm their crews accounted for. It just makes it all the sadder if it was a false alarm... however, who knows.

Regards to all those at 815, thoughts with the families.

'For all those in peril on the sea/in the air'

Another Lynx tragedy and whatever the cause made even worse by the fact that they were out trying to help others. All this and just before Christmas. Thoughts and prayers with the RN Lynx community and their families.

As an aside does anyone know whether the SAR helos from Culdrose were scrambled for the initial man overboard call or only once the Lynx went missing. One would have thought that a dedicated SAR unit only 20 miles away would have been the obvious asset to use. Was the Lynx scrambled from a ship or from Culdrose?

Also, unless I'm mistaken I believe the usual crew for a RN lynx is 2. I assume they had supplemented the crew to assist with the search. Prayers therefore too to the ships company.