Shetland helicopter crash: body of fourth victim recovered, The body of the fourth victim of a helicopter crash off Shetland has been recovered from the wreckage of the aircraft, police said. It was also revealed that all scheduled flights to Britain's offshore platforms by the model of helicopter involved in the accident, as well as other similar models, were suspended.
All commercial flights of three other Super Puma models were also cancelled as companies followed the advice of aviation authorities and grounded their aircraft.
The confirmed death toll of Friday's crash has now reached four, including the pilot, and family members paid tribute to the those who died. They were named as: Duncan Munro, 46, from County Durham; George Allison, 57, from Hampshire; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin, and 59-year-old Gary McCrossan, from Inverness.
Munro leaves his wife, Penny, and 12-year-old daughter, Katie. In a statement, his family said: "He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him and his death will leave a large void in a lot of people's lives."
Darnley is survived by her parents Anne and Edmund, her sister, Angela, and nephew Nicholas. Her mother said in a statement: "We are shocked by the sudden loss of Sarah, who was a fun-loving free spirit who will be sorely missed. Sarah lived life to the full, she was easy going and a one-off. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her."
The wreckage of the aircraft was also recovered. Witnesses said that the helicopter suddenly lost power around two miles off Shetland as it approached Sumburgh airport.
It was returning from a Total offshore platform in the North Sea when it ditched into the water and rolled over as passengers scrambled to get out. The body of the fourth victim is believed to have been found inside the helicopter.
The aircraft was carrying 16 workers and two crew members back to Shetland. The Super Puma AS332 L2 was owned by Canadian company CHC, which said that it would ground all commercial flights involving its Super Puma aircraft. Friday's crash is the fifth incident involving those helicopters since 2009.
The offshore industry's Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG), which is composed of representatives from oil and gas firms, contractors, helicopter operators, offshore unions, the Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority, urged that precautionary measures be taken until there is "sufficient factual information" to resume Super Puma flights.
The group met on Sunday and recommended the temporary suspension of all Super Puma commercial passenger flights to and from the UK's oil and gas installations. That includes the AS332 L, L1, L2 and EC225 models.
CHC said it was "devastated" by the accident. Excluding search-and-rescue operations, the Canadian firm – along with fellow operators Bond Offshore Helicopters and Bristow – agreed to abide by the recommendation.
Efforts were underway to bring the aircraft to shore on Sunday night. Shetland coastguard manager John Webster said: "The heavy-lift ship is out at the moment trying to recover what wreckage it can from the sea. After that the air accidents investigation branch will decide where to take it. A lot of our crew are shocked, to say the least. We've dealt with a few air crashes before. Each one is different but each is as sad as the last."
Chief Inspector Angus MacInnes, from Police Scotland, said: "The fourth person was recovered from the wreckage and we have deployed family liaison officers to support those who have lost loved ones. We are also working with the industry to help support all of those affected."
He added: "Friday's incident has had a huge impact on those who work or have relatives in the oil and gas industries but also the communities in Shetland and Aberdeen.
"There is a tangible sense of mourning and shock in the area and there is unlikely to be anyone who hasn't had this on their minds over the last few days.
"The quick and co-ordinated response by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), RNLI and other emergency services may have prevented further loss of life in this already tragic incident."
All commercial flights of three other Super Puma models were also cancelled as companies followed the advice of aviation authorities and grounded their aircraft.
The confirmed death toll of Friday's crash has now reached four, including the pilot, and family members paid tribute to the those who died. They were named as: Duncan Munro, 46, from County Durham; George Allison, 57, from Hampshire; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin, and 59-year-old Gary McCrossan, from Inverness.
Munro leaves his wife, Penny, and 12-year-old daughter, Katie. In a statement, his family said: "He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him and his death will leave a large void in a lot of people's lives."
Darnley is survived by her parents Anne and Edmund, her sister, Angela, and nephew Nicholas. Her mother said in a statement: "We are shocked by the sudden loss of Sarah, who was a fun-loving free spirit who will be sorely missed. Sarah lived life to the full, she was easy going and a one-off. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her."
The wreckage of the aircraft was also recovered. Witnesses said that the helicopter suddenly lost power around two miles off Shetland as it approached Sumburgh airport.
It was returning from a Total offshore platform in the North Sea when it ditched into the water and rolled over as passengers scrambled to get out. The body of the fourth victim is believed to have been found inside the helicopter.
The aircraft was carrying 16 workers and two crew members back to Shetland. The Super Puma AS332 L2 was owned by Canadian company CHC, which said that it would ground all commercial flights involving its Super Puma aircraft. Friday's crash is the fifth incident involving those helicopters since 2009.
The offshore industry's Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG), which is composed of representatives from oil and gas firms, contractors, helicopter operators, offshore unions, the Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority, urged that precautionary measures be taken until there is "sufficient factual information" to resume Super Puma flights.
The group met on Sunday and recommended the temporary suspension of all Super Puma commercial passenger flights to and from the UK's oil and gas installations. That includes the AS332 L, L1, L2 and EC225 models.
CHC said it was "devastated" by the accident. Excluding search-and-rescue operations, the Canadian firm – along with fellow operators Bond Offshore Helicopters and Bristow – agreed to abide by the recommendation.
Efforts were underway to bring the aircraft to shore on Sunday night. Shetland coastguard manager John Webster said: "The heavy-lift ship is out at the moment trying to recover what wreckage it can from the sea. After that the air accidents investigation branch will decide where to take it. A lot of our crew are shocked, to say the least. We've dealt with a few air crashes before. Each one is different but each is as sad as the last."
Chief Inspector Angus MacInnes, from Police Scotland, said: "The fourth person was recovered from the wreckage and we have deployed family liaison officers to support those who have lost loved ones. We are also working with the industry to help support all of those affected."
He added: "Friday's incident has had a huge impact on those who work or have relatives in the oil and gas industries but also the communities in Shetland and Aberdeen.
"There is a tangible sense of mourning and shock in the area and there is unlikely to be anyone who hasn't had this on their minds over the last few days.
"The quick and co-ordinated response by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), RNLI and other emergency services may have prevented further loss of life in this already tragic incident."
