Helicopter carrying 16 ditches in North Sea
Updated on 01 April 2009
A helicopter carrying 16 people has ditched in the sea off northeast Scotland.
Aberdeen Coastguard said the Bond aircraft was returning from an oil platform just before 2pm when it went down 35 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast.
An MCA statement said: "Two helicopters from the RAF have been scrambled to the scene and a Nimrod marine patrol aircraft has been diverted to the area.
"Aberdeen Coastguard have begun broadcasting a mayday signal into the area. RNLI lifeboats from Peterhead and Fraserburgh are heading for the scene now.
"It is understood that there are 16 people on board the aircraft".
A search and rescue operation is being coordinated.
The incident comes nearly six weeks after a Bond Super Puma with 18 people on board went down in the North Sea in February as it approached a BP production platform. Everyone survived the accident.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said: "A supply vessel called Normand Aurora, which was quite close by, has put their fast response boat into the water and is looking for survivors."
