Shetland helicopter crash: Three bodies found

The bodies of three people missing after a helicopter crash off Shetland have been recovered, police have said.

One person is still missing and Police Scotland confirmed 14 others have been rescued and are in hospital.

The Super Puma L2 helicopter crashed west of Sumburgh Airport at about 18:20 BST on Friday.

RNLI rescue co-ordinator Jim Nicholson said the helicopter - carrying workers from an oil rig - apparently suffered a "catastrophic loss of power".

He said it appeared the aircraft had "suddenly dropped into the sea without any opportunity to make a controlled landing".

The ditched helicopter was found broken into several pieces up against rocks.

Boats, including a ferry and a cargo ship, joined lifeboat crews from Lerwick and Aith and helicopters from the coastguard, RAF Lossiemouth and two Bond rescue helicopters to search for survivors.

Coxswain Bruce Leask, of the Lerwick lifeboat, said two bodies were recovered after being spotted in the water from a rescue helicopter.

He said the lifeboat had managed to tow the wreckage off the rocks, and a rope had been attached to hold the wreckage in the shelter of Horse Island until a recovery vessel arrived.

The helicopter, carrying 16 passengers and two crew from the Borgsten Dolphin oil platform in the North Sea, was operated by CHC for Total, taking people to and from oil and gas platforms.

'Lost power'

Earlier, Mr Nicholson told the BBC the helicopter had been in a "fairly inaccessible position... near the cliffs", with weather in the area not "particularly good".

A rescue helicopter flew nine of the rescued people into Lerwick. One was taken off by stretcher and the rest walked off the flight.

Jim Nicholson, rescue co-ordinator for the RNLI, speaks to the BBC as footage shows the rescue operation taking place

A CHC spokesman confirmed that an L2 aircraft landed in the water, approximately two miles west of Sumburgh.

"The aircraft was on approach to Sumburgh Airport at approximately 6.20pm when contact was lost with air traffic control," he said.

In a later statement, the company said the cause of the incident was unknown but Super Puma L2 flights would be suspended worldwide.

"Also, in deference to the incident and the investigation, we are suspending all flights [on] Saturday by our UK operations," the company added.

Michael Bull, whose son Samuel was rescued, said: "We understand he was on his way back from a rig and the helicopter lost power suddenly and immediately ditched into the water.

"He managed to escape straight away because he was right by an exit and I understand soon afterwards that the helicopter turned over."

Investigation team

Police Scotland said a major incident had been declared.

The coastguard initially said 15 people had been taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, but police have said the number was actually 14.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond also paid tribute to the "brave and hard-working" people involved in the rescue effort.

He added: "Our thoughts at this difficult time are with the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident."

Northlink Ferries said one of its vessels from Shetland had been diverted to help the rescue effort.

The Department for Transport said the Air Accidents Investigation Branch had sent a team to the scene.

Last year, Super Puma helicopters crashed in two incidents, one off Aberdeen and another off Shetland, but these involved the EC 225 variety of the aircraft.

All passengers and crew were rescued in both incidents which were found to have been caused by gearbox problems.

Super Puma EC 225s were grounded following the crashes but were given the go-ahead to resume flying again earlier this month.