UK citizen killed in Dubai helicopter crash 04/09/2008 - 12:07:02
A UK citizen is among seven people who have been killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of Dubai, officials said today.
The aircraft, carrying foreign contractors, crashed into an oil-drilling platform, killing all seven people on board, local authorities and two oil companies involved said.
The Bell 212 helicopter crashed last night, according to the Emirates’ Civil Aviation Authority. It was carrying workers to a rig operated by oilfield service provider Petrofac on behalf of Dubai Petroleum, the companies said.
The victims included a citizen from the United States, United Kingdom, Pakistan, the Philippines and Venezuela, as well as two Indians, the Emirati aviation authorities said.
A Dubai Petroleum spokesman, who declined to be named because he wasn’t yet authorised to give details of the crash to the media, said five of the victims were passengers and two were crew members.
A Petrofac spokesman said he could not confirm the victims’ nationalities. He said none of the company’s employees were among the victims.
“We are still in the process of identifying the deceased and notifying the next of kin,” said Olly Scott, speaking on behalf of Petrofac.
Dubai Petroleum and Petrofac said the helicopter was operated by Dubai-based Aerogulf Services, and that it struck the deck of the Maersk rig during take-off last night, broke apart and plunged into the Persian Gulf waters.
A fire broke out aboard the main deck of the rig but was quickly extinguished, the companies said. The platform is located in the Rashid field about 40 miles off shore.
The jackup rig consists of a movable drilling platform that sits out of the water on legs resting on the seabed.
There were no casualties on the drilling rig or platform themselves, which have been secured, the companies added.
All operations in the Rashid field have been halted, they said. Mr Scott said it was unclear when the rig would be back in service.
HOME PAGE
ARCHIVES
|