Three of the Super Puma victims drowned

THREE of the four victims who died in the Super Puma helicopter crash, off Sumburgh, drowned according to the BBC.

The broadcaster said it had seen the death certificates of Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin, Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, and George Allison, 57, from Winchester.

The fourth victim, Gary McCrossan, 59, from Inverness died of heart failure.

There were 18 people, 16 oil workers and two pilots, on board the helicopter when it crashed into the sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.7 kilometres) from the threshold of the west-facing runway of Sumburgh airport on 23 August.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has already criticised Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) for the time it took to launch their rigid inflatable rescue craft.

However, under civil aviation rules the airport is only required to respond effectively to incidents within one kilometer offshore.

Back in October, an airport spokesman said: “The airport’s fast rescue craft was the first waterborne asset on site in support of the rescue effort.

“We would like to reiterate our thanks to the members of the airport fire service who responded to the incident outwith the airport’s area of responsibility.”

The investigation into what caused the helicopter to crash continues.