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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Helicopter carrying seven crashes | Helicopter carrying seven crashes |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A major rescue operation is under way after a helicopter with seven people on board crashed in Morecambe Bay. | A major rescue operation is under way after a helicopter with seven people on board crashed in Morecambe Bay. |
| The aircraft, which took off from Blackpool Airport, was ferrying Centrica personnel to a gas field in the Lancashire bay when it came down. | The aircraft, which took off from Blackpool Airport, was ferrying Centrica personnel to a gas field in the Lancashire bay when it came down. |
| Two helicopter crew members and five rig workers are thought to be missing. | Two helicopter crew members and five rig workers are thought to be missing. |
| Two RAF rescue helicopters, from RAF Valley and RAF Leconfield, lifeboats, coastguard crews and a rig support vessel are searching for survivors. | |
| 'Distress beacon' | |
| Michael Mulford, from the Royal Air Force Rescue Centre, said contact with the helicopter was lost at around 1800 GMT. | Michael Mulford, from the Royal Air Force Rescue Centre, said contact with the helicopter was lost at around 1800 GMT. |
| He told BBC News 24: "We do not know whether this is a controlled landing or a crash - the two are very different. | He told BBC News 24: "We do not know whether this is a controlled landing or a crash - the two are very different. |
| "We have located the site of a distress beacon one or two minutes after the coastguard called us. | |
| "[With] any search at this time you have to remain optimistic. | "[With] any search at this time you have to remain optimistic. |
| "We have to believe this is a live search for seven guys who may or may not be in the water. | |
| "This is an air search to see if we can find any trace of what befell this aircraft. | "This is an air search to see if we can find any trace of what befell this aircraft. |
| Families contacted | |
| "What really matters is where are these seven guys and how best do we look for them." | "What really matters is where are these seven guys and how best do we look for them." |
| A Maritime Coastguard spokesman said the helicopter had ditched around 25 miles off the coast. | A Maritime Coastguard spokesman said the helicopter had ditched around 25 miles off the coast. |
| Centrica is contacting all families connected with its Morecambe Bay gas fields and has "expressed its thoughts for those missing at this time". | |
| The rescue is being co-ordinated by Liverpool coastguards and lifeboats from Fleetwood and Barrow have been sent to the scene. | The rescue is being co-ordinated by Liverpool coastguards and lifeboats from Fleetwood and Barrow have been sent to the scene. |
| Lancashire Constabulary are setting up an incident room to help co-ordinate the rescue attempt in Blackpool. | Lancashire Constabulary are setting up an incident room to help co-ordinate the rescue attempt in Blackpool. |
| Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. | Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. |
| If you have any pictures or moving footage you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 | If you have any pictures or moving footage you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |