No hope of further survivors from North Sea helicopter crash

Published on Thursday 2 April 2009 11:18

POLICE said today that the North Sea helicopter crash is now being treated solely as a recovery operation.

Eight bodies have been taken from the water following yesterday's accident 14 miles from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

Speaking at Aberdeen harbour, where the victims' bodies arrived today, Grampian Police Assistant Chief Constable Colin Menzies said: "The grim reality is that the crew of 16 on board has been lost."

It is thought the remaining bodies are either trapped in the stricken craft or have floated away from the scene of the crash.

The aircraft was flying back from the BP Miller platform at the time, in calm and sunny conditions.

The eight recovered bodies arrived at Aberdeen harbour on board the Caledonia Victory support vessel at about 4.30am today.

The bodies were taken from the harbour in hearses and private ambulances at about 8.30am, led by an escort of police bikers.

Mr Menzies said the full impact of the tragedy was hitting the community today.

He said: "It is now a recovery operation sadly.

"The most thorough and effective means of doing that is currently being undertaken."

He said half those on board the helicopter were from the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area.

Four others were from elsewhere in Scotland, three from England and Wales, and one from outside the UK.

All the British families have been informed but attempts are still being made to trace the relatives of the foreign worker, he said.

Mr Menzies said: "I walked down here to the harbour this morning and there's a sense of quietness around the city.

"We are used to seeing and hearing helicopters in the sky over Aberdeen every few minutes and it's been that way for the last 20 or 30 years.

"I'd be surprised if there was anyone in Aberdeen or the north east community who has not had this event on their minds this morning.

"This is really close to people's hearts."

Susan Todd of the coastguard said nine vessels, including RNLI, merchant and fishing boats were involved in the recovery operation.

Some wreckage was taken from the sea last night and taken to Peterhead, she said.

Ms Todd said that search vessels would continue to look for people and wreckage, with the focus on a concentrated area which had expanded overnight.

But she said: "There's very little wreckage on the surface.

"We can only assume that the bulk of the wreckage has sunk to the sea bed."

Police said the bodies located yesterday were found floating in the water by vessels which arrived quickly on scene.

Mr Menzies said of the other eight on board: "The remaining bodies are either trapped in the aircraft or have now floated away from the scene."

First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament today will be altered to allow party leaders to speak about the tragedy.

Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy will make a statement to the House of Commons on the helicopter incident at around 1215, his office announced.