On Wednesday 27 December 2006, HSE was notified that a helicopter had ditched in Morecambe Bay, off the Lancashire coast, at around 18.30 hours. Two pilots and five passengers were on board.
Initial reports indicate that the helicopter, owned by CHC Scotia Ltd, was transferring offshore workers between gas platforms in the North Morecambe offshore field operated by Hydrocarbon Resources Ltd (HRL), a subsidiary of Centrica plc. Six bodies have been recovered and one person is still missing. Lancashire Constabulary and the Department for Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are leading the investigation. Staff from HSE's Offshore Division are liaising with the AAIB and will provide assistance as required.
HSE and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are responsible for regulating UK offshore health and safety and aviation safety respectively. Helicopter transport is primarily the CAA's area of regulatory responsibility, whereas installations are the responsibility of HSE.
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