North Sea chopper crash: one person killed, five injured

Authorities report that one person has died and five others have been injured in a helicopter crash that occurred during a search and rescue mission off the coast of Norway. When the incident happened close to Bergen, the state-owned oil and gas corporation Equinor ASA was receiving training from the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, which is flown by Bristow Norway AS. A rescue team managed to successfully extract all six crew members from the water, however one of them later passed away from injuries sustained in the hospital. According to Equinor, the helicopter was a search and rescue vehicle that was usually used to service platforms at the North Sea’s Oseberg oil and gas production. The operator of the helicopter is completely assisting the authorities, and the cause of the incident is still under investigation. According to William Bertheussen, chairman of the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority, crash inspectors have been sent to investigate the incident. In an effort to evaluate the situation and show compassion for the impacted parties, Equinor has temporarily halted regular flights. Anders Opedal, the CEO of Equinor, expressed trust in the type of helicopter and its crew notwithstanding the unfortunate incident. After completing the required safety procedures, the business hopes to quickly return to regular helicopter operations. Opedal said that the day was “deeply tragic” and offered his condolences to the families and others who were impacted by the event.