This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6213141.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Six dead after helicopter crash Six dead in rig helicopter crash
(40 minutes later)
Six bodies have been recovered from the sea following a helicopter crash off Morecambe Bay, police have said. Six bodies have been recovered from the sea after a helicopter crashed off Morecambe Bay in Lancashire.
A major rescue operation was launched after the Eurocopter AS365N with seven people on board came down. A rescue operation was launched after the Eurocopter AS365N carrying seven people came down 24 miles offshore.
The aircraft took off from Blackpool Airport and was ferrying Centrica personnel to a gas field in the bay. The aircraft took off from Blackpool Airport and was ferrying Centrica personnel to gas rigs in the bay.
Two crew members and five rig workers were thought to be missing. Rescue helicopters from RAF Valley and RAF Leconfield joined the search. Two crew members and five rig workers were missing. RAF rescue helicopters, coastguard and RNLI crews, and a rig support vessel joined the search.
Lifeboats, coastguard crews and a rig support vessel were also alerted. The bodies of six men have been recovered and were brought ashore, Lancashire Constabulary said.
Six bodies have been recovered and were brought ashore. The search was continuing for the other missing person, a spokesman added.
The search was continuing for the other missing person, a spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary spokesman said.
Emergency phone numbers for relatives to contact - 01772 410772/410774.Emergency phone numbers for relatives to contact - 01772 410772/410774.
Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell from Lancashire police said "there was a very quick rescue response because people were on the drilling platform waiting to be picked up and they actually saw the helicopter ditch in the sea". Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell said "there was a very quick rescue response because people were on the drilling platform waiting to be picked up and they actually saw the helicopter ditch in the sea".
Michael Mulford, from the Royal Air Force Rescue Centre, said contact with the helicopter was lost at around 1800 GMT. He said witnesses on the rig were being transported back to be interviewed as investigators tried to establish the cause of the crash.
He told BBC News 24: "We have located the site of a distress beacon, which all aircraft carry and which activate automatically if they do come done on water, one or two minutes after the coastguard called us.
"This is an air search to see if we can find any trace of what befell this aircraft.
Families contactedFamilies contacted
A Maritime Coastguard spokesman said the helicopter had ditched around 25 miles off the coast. The helicopter, operated by industry transportation giant CHC, left Blackpool at about 1800 GMT and was visiting two rigs to bring workers back to shore.
Centrica is contacting all families connected with its Morecambe Bay gas fields and has "expressed its thoughts for those missing at this time". Det Supt Gradwell said conditions were cold but it was not very foggy.
He said police were unaware of any emergency calls having being received.
Centrica said it is contacting all families connected with its Morecambe Bay gas fields.
Relatives of Centrica employees can call a dedicated helpline on 01524 864585.
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. Rescue helicopters from RAF Valley and RAF Leconfield were called out.
Gas was discovered off the shore of Morecambe Bay in 1974 and extraction operations began 11 years later. There are about 143 Centrica staff working on the platforms at any one time.
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 100If 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 videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
Name:
 Name: