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13 killed in Norway helicopter crash

Manzurul Alam Mukul || risingbd.com

Published: 03:54, 30 April 2016   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
13 killed in Norway helicopter crash

Risingbd Desk: Thirteen people are presumed dead after a helicopter crashed west of the Norwegian city of Bergen, rescuers say.


Eleven of those on board were Norwegian, one was British and one Italian. No survivors have been found.


A major rescue operation was launched but ended within hours of the crash.


Meanwhile, Norway`s civil aviation authority has imposed a flight ban on the type of helicopter that crashed - the Eurocopter (EC) 225L Super Puma. Reports say it was "totally destroyed".


Its officials told VG newspaper (in Norwegian) that servicing for the helicopter which crashed had been delayed twice in 2015, for a total of 200 flying hours.


Later, local media quoted a civil aviation authority spokeswoman as saying the helicopter`s two black boxes had been recovered.


The British Civilian Aviation Authority later said it was suspending commercial use of the Super Puma, so it would be unable to carry oil and gas workers but could still fly for other purposes.


The aircraft was flying from the Gullfaks oil field to Bergen, a centre for the North Sea oil and gas industry.


Eleven bodies have been found, and two other people are still missing.


Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said news of the crash was "horrible".


King Harald and Queen Sonja cancelled a trip to Sweden, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported.


Oil company Statoil said all the passengers were on assignment for the company, but worked for different organisations.


Statoil has suspended oil production at the Gullfaks B platform "so that we can take care of the staff in the best way possible", company vice-president Arne Sigve Nylund told journalists.


The helicopter came down near the small island of Turoey, just west of the village of Solsvik.


Eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter`s rotor blade come loose and shear off.


Source: BBC


Risingbd/April 30, 2016/Mukul

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