Super Puma flights grounded in UK after fatal crash in Norway

ALL UK commercial passenger flights using the Airbus EC225LP helicopter have been grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) following a fatal crash in Norway.

Rescue forces work at the shore west of Bergen, Norway after a helicopter transporting 13 workers from an offshore oil field in the North Sea crashed Picture: AFP/Getty Images

One Briton is among the 11 people killed after the aircraft, also known as a Super Puma, came down near the city of Bergen yesterday. Two people remain missing, but are feared dead.

The CAA said in a statement: “Following the accident the UK CAA has issued an instruction to stop any commercial passenger flights by UK operators flying the Airbus EC225LP helicopter. This mirrors action taken by the Norwegian CAA. The restriction does not apply to search and rescue flights.

“The accident involved a Norwegian helicopter and will therefore be investigated by the Norwegian authorities. We will offer any assistance that we can.”

Rescue forces work at the shore west of Bergen, Norway after a helicopter transporting 13 workers from an offshore oil field in the North Sea crashed off Picture: AFP/Getty Images

The helicopter was carrying passengers from the Gullfaks B oil field in the North Sea when it came down near the small island of Turoey.

Those on board also included 11 Norwegians and one Italian.

The CAA’s decision to ground all commercial Super Puma flights by UK operators comes after four people died when one crashed in the North Sea off Shetland in August 2013, while 16 lives were lost in an accident 12 miles off Peterhead on what should have been a routine flight from BP’s Miller field to Aberdeen in April 2009.

In February 2014 the Civil Aviation Authority introduced a series of measures to improve the safety of North Sea helicopter operations.

Rescue forces work at the shore west of Bergen, Norway after a helicopter transporting 13 workers from an offshore oil field in the North Sea crashed off Picture: AFP/Getty Images

The changes included prohibiting flights in the most severe weather conditions, amending the seating of passengers, improving breathing equipment and altering the training of pilots.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the British fatality: “We have offered our support to the family of a British national who has sadly died in a helicopter crash in Bergen, Norway. Our thoughts are with all those affected.

“We will remain in contact with local authorities.”

A team from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will travel to Norway today to assist with the investigation.

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