MAJOR SEARCH AND RESCUE AFTER HELICOPTER DITCHES OFF SHETLAND

Shetland Coastguard has been coordinating a major search and rescue operation after a helicopter ditched off the coast 15 miles west of Fair Isle this afternoon.

There were 19 people on board, all of which have now been accounted for.

Three RNLI lifeboats (Kirkwall, Aith and Lerwick) went to the scene, along with the Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter from Stornoway, RAF Lossiemouth, and the Bond rescue helicopter from Sumburgh. A vessel in the area at the time - the Nord Nightingale - launched its fast rescue craft. This rescued the 19 people from their liferaft and brought them back to the tanker. From here they were flown by the RAF helicopter and Bond helicopter back to Kirkwall.

It’s believed the helicopter was on its way from Aberdeen to West Phoenix drilling rig.

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