First photos of ditched chopper

THE RNLI have released the first photos of the Super Puma EC225 helicopter that was forced to make a controlled landings in the sea,  20 miles west of Fair Isle.

All 19 people on board the CHC-operated helicopter were rescued and taken to Orkney and Shetland.

The grainy mobile phone pictures were taken with by the crew of the Lerwick lifeboat which arrived at the scene as darkness fell, on Monday.

The pictures show how the ballast balloons are fully inflated preventing the helicopter from sinking.

Meanwhile the coastguard emergency tug Herakles remains on standby beside the ditched helicopter, while the oil supply vessel Olympic Zeus heads for the scene to lift the aircraft on board.

Please also read: Rescued passengers praise chopper crew and All oil field Super Pumas grounded

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