11 dead, two missing after helicopter crash off coast of western Norway
by Jan M. Olsen, The Associated Press
Helicopter was carrying Statoil workers to mainland from North Sea oil field
The helicopter was en route to the Norwegian mainland from the Gullfaks B oil field in the North Sea. PHOTO: Harald Pettersen/Statoil
COPENHAGEN—A rescue official says 11 bodies have been found after the crash of a helicopter on an island off the coast of western Norway.
Two people are still missing.
Jon Sjursoe, a spokesman for Norway’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center, said there were 11 Norwegian nationals, one Briton and one Italian on the Eurocopter EC-225 helicopter that crashed April 29, but he didn’t know which were among the confirmed victims.
Norwegian broadcaster NRK said 11 of the 13 people on board were employed by Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil ASA. The company didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.
The helicopter was on its way from the Gullfaks B oil field in the North Sea to Bergen, 120 kilometres away on the Norwegian mainland.
The helicopter belonged to B.C.-based CHC Helicopter. A spokeswoman with the company said exact details of what had happened were not yet known.
