Dubai - Shetland Islands helicopter accident: helicopter crashes into water, four dead

Sign up for a free trial of News Direct's animated news graphics at http://newsdirect.nma.com.tw/Reuters.aspx Four people were killed when a Super Puma L2 helicopter carrying oil workers crashed into the ocean off the coast of Scotland's Shetland Islands. The aircraft, made by EADS unit Eurocopter and operated by CHC Helicopter for France's Total, was carrying a total of 16 passengers and two crew members. This is the four accident in the area that involved a model of the aircraft in the past four years. According Reuters, "The helicopter lost contact with air traffic control and crashed into the sea as it approached Sumburgh airport, on the coast of Shetland, a cluster of islands more than 100 miles off the northeastern tip of mainland Scotland, on Friday. "The mother of one of the survivors told Sky News, 'He said it seemed to lose power and there was no time to brace. They just dropped into the sea. He was by a window so he was able to escape that way as it rolled over.' "Scottish police said three bodies had been recovered and work was under way to recover the body of the fourth. Sky News said the fourth body was in the wreckage. All those killed - three men and one woman - were passengers. "A Eurocopter spokesman said the company was supporting CHC and the authorities with their investigations. AAIB Chief Inspector Keith Conradi told the BBC that the group expects to publish a report containing safety recommendations within the next few days after reviewing the wreckage and black box data. "Bob Crow, general secretary of offshore union RMT said that workforce confidence in Super Puma aircraft had already been hit by previous incidents. "'We will support any member who refuses to board any suspect aircraft type in light of this disaster,' he said."