Following todays fatal helicopter crash, Statoil has already taken the decision to suspend all of their North Sea helicopter flights but it seems like it is business as usual for other operators with two EC225 Super Pumas waiting to takeoff from Aberdeen heliport as we write this.

While the industry shouldn’t jump to conclusions it has to be of serious concern that once again it is another Super Puma that has crashed and of the exact same type involved in previous fatal accidents. What makes this crash even more concerning is the 2 witness accounts that have already came out through the media. both collaborate each other and confirm that the helicopters Rotor blades came off before the aircraft crashed.

The witness accounts suggest a serious mechanical malfunction and from previous incidents we know that the gearbox’s on these aircraft have had multiple issues over the years.

Oil and Gas People has contacted the CAA for a statement, ultimately it is their decision and that of the manufacturers as to whether the fleet should be grounded, until then it seems it is business as usual and you may very well be asked to take your seat on an identical aircraft if you are travelling offshore today…

UPDATE: 14:34 A spokesperson for the CAA gave us this statement: “Our thoughts are with those affected by the tragic accident in Norway.

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

“We are also in close contact with UK offshore helicopter operators to assess the situation.”

The incident comes at the worst possible time for CHC happening just a few hours after news broke that they could be just weeks away from being declared bankrupt. Hopefully all the recent rounds of cost cutting have not played any part in this accident.

Recent North Sea Helicopter Crashes 

In April 2009, two crew and 14 passengers on board a Super Puma helicopter died after a “catastrophic failure” of the gearbox caused it to fall into the sea 11 miles off the coast of Peterhead.

That flight had been operated by the Bond company. Just six weeks earlier, a Bond Super Puma with 18 people on board ditched in the North Sea as it approached a production platform owned by BP. Everyone survived.

In May 2012, 14 people were rescued after a Super Puma EC 225 ditched off the coast of Aberdeen and 19 people were rescued after the same model of helicopter, operated by CHC crashed into the North Sea off fair Isle in Shetland.

Eighteen people were aboard a Super Puma chopper which plunged into the North Sea near Shetland in August 2013 killing 4.