MPs to hold helicopter safety inquiry

A COMMITTEE of MPs is to hold an inquiry into helicopter safety in the North Sea offshore industry after a spate of crashes over the past four years culminating in last month’s fatal disaster off Shetland in which four people died.

The House of Commons transport select committee confirmed on Tuesday it would be holding a wide ranging investigation into the five helicopter crashes that have taken place since 2009.

It will also consider whether the government can do anything to improve safety for oil and gas personnel travelling to and from platforms.

Committee chair Louise Ellman MP there were concerns that workers had lost confidence in the helicopters.


“Any fatal accident is a cause for concern, but there have been five helicopter accidents involving personnel from the oil and gas industry in the last four years, two of which caused multiple fatalities,” she said.

“We have heard worrying evidence that the workforce has lost confidence in the helicopters which they have no choice but to use.

“We want to look at what has gone wrong and whether the government can do more to improve safety and protect the lives of offshore workers”.

The inquiry’s detailed terms of reference will be published later this autumn.