23 August 2013 Last updated at 20:49 GMT
Three missing after helicopter crashes near Shetland
One image shows rescuers approaching a liferaft, as Kevin Keane
reports
Three people are missing after a
Super Puma helicopter, carrying 18, crashed into the sea near Shetland.
The Coastguard confirmed that 15 people had been rescued from the sea and were taken to a hospital in Lerwick. An air and sea search is continuing.
The incident happened west of Sumburgh airport at about 18.20.
The helicopter, carrying 16 passengers and two crew, was operated by CHC, taking people to and from oil and gas platforms in the North Sea.
One rescue helicopter flew nine people into Lerwick. One was taken off the flight by stretcher. The rest walked off the flight.
Major incident
A CHC spokesman said: "CHC Helicopter can confirm that there has been an incident involving one of our aircraft in the North Sea, approximately two miles off Sumburgh.
"Exact details of the incident, which happened at approximately 6.20pm are not yet known.
"The appropriate authorities have been informed and the company's Incident Management Team is being mobilised."
Police Scotland said a major incident had been declared.
A spokesman said 15 people had been taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.
Sumburgh Airport has been closed to allow emergency services to deal with the incident.
Rescue helicopters
Airport spokesman Donald Morrison confirmed that the aircraft was a Super Puma helicopter.
He said it was making an approach to Sumburgh Airport at 18:15 and lost radar contact with air traffic control.
Three helicopters and two lifeboats are involved in the search.
The coastguard said wreckage from the helicopter was starting to wash up at Garth Sneff near Sumburgh Head.
Sq Ldr Dave Webster said RAF Kinloss received a call at 18:27, saying a Super Puma had ditched to the west of Sumburgh - about three or four miles offshore.
A ferry travelling between Shetland and Aberdeen was diverted to the scene and the RNLI launched Aith and Lerwick lifeboats.
Northlink Ferries confirmed that one of its ferries had been diverted. The vessel left Shetland and was heading to Aberdeen but was diverted back to the incident.
A BBC journalist on board the ferry said the weather conditions were misty with low fog.
Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are travelling to the scene.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "The AAIB is aware of the incident and has deployed a team".
Previous incidents
Last year, two helicopters ditched in the North Sea only six months apart. All passengers and crew were rescued in both incidents which were found to be caused by gearbox problems.
In October, 17 passengers and two crew were rescued from life rafts by a passing vessel after the helicopter, which was carrying an oil crew from Aberdeen to a rig 86 miles north west of Shetland, was forced to ditch.
Previously, in May 2012 all 14 passengers and crew members on a Super Puma helicopter were rescued after it ditched about 30 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.
The helicopter was on a scheduled flight from Aberdeen Airport to a platform in the North Sea at the time.
Super Puma EC 225s were grounded in the wake of the two incidents but were given approval to fly again and services resumed earlier this month.
In April 2009, 16 people died when a Super Puma plunged into the sea. Its gearbox failed while carrying the men to Aberdeen.
The Bond-operated aircraft was returning from the BP Miller platform when it went down off the Aberdeenshire coast on April 1, 2009
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