Super Puma ditching survivors raise legal action

Survivors of a North Sea helicopter ditching have raised legal action against the aircraft operator.

The Super Puma EC225 made an emergency landing 30 miles east of Aberdeen in May 2012 after a warning light came on in the cockpit. Picture: Alex Hewitt

The Super Puma EC225 made an emergency landing 30 miles east of Aberdeen in May 2012 after a warning light came on in the cockpit.

All 14 people on board – 12 oil workers and two crew – survived the ditching and were picked up by rescue parties.

Now 10 of the 14 survivors have lodged actions at the Court of Session in Edinburgh against helicopter operator Bond.

Lisa Gregory, of Digby Brown Solicitors, is representing the men. She said: “Everyone is 
entitled to safe working environment and this was clearly not the case when this accident occurred.”

The Eurocopter had just left Aberdeen and was ferrying oil workers to the Maersk Resilient drilling rig when the crew sent out a mayday call reporting it had gone down in the water.

An Air Accident Investigations Branch report into the ditching found a 360-degree crack had formed in the gearbox shaft.

Dates are yet to be set for hearings. Bond could not be contacted for comment.