Poignant visit to Sumburgh helicopter memorial for Chinook pilot Pushp
THE PILOT of a Chinook helicopter which crashed off the coast of Shetland in 1986, killing 45 people, has visited a memorial to the dead at Sumburgh Airport for the first time today (Friday).
Pushp Vaid, who along with Eric Morrans were the sole survivors, visited the site this morning with a German TV film crew who are putting together a show about people who have survived major accidents.
Vaid said he had wanted to come to “pay my homage” to the people who died on 6 November 1986 for a long time.
“I’ve been meaning to come here for some time, but never got round to it,” he told Shetland News.
“It was very nice. I’m glad it is there.”
The now 86-year-old told Shetland News last week that it was “just pure luck” that he survived the fatal crash, which occurred after the Chinook helicopter suffered a broken front gear.
Chinook tragedy 40 years on – ‘pure luck that I survived’ fatal crash, pilot says
Reflecting on that day, and the Sumburgh memorial today, Vaid said that “45 souls were lost with me” – and that he still feels “sad that happened”.
Asked if his visit would close a chapter on the Chinook tragedy for him, Vaid said: “I don’t think it will close a chapter, that’s there for life.”
GP Susan Bowie met Vaid at the memorial this morning, and she laid a wreath for those that died in the Chinook crash.
She spoke to fellow doctors recently about her involvement in the aftermath of the crash.
Bowie said she was a “relatively new GP” who was called in to help as bodies were brought ashore to Sumburgh.
Help keep Shetland’s news open to everyone
Good local journalism takes time, care and people on the ground. Membership helps us keep reporting the stories that matter to Shetland — and keep them free for everyone to read. Members get a weekly newsletter created especially for them, local ads only, and can bookmark stories and join the conversation in the comments.
Already a member? Sign in.
She said that she was asked to go and “pronounce life extinct” as bodies were recovered, adding it was a “job that became more and more harrowing”.
Vaid said he was “so touched” by Bowie’s story.
“Hearing that she was a young 20-year-old doctor, and had all that work to do – to look at the bodies, declare people medically dead. My heart goes out to them.”
Vaid is in Shetland to record an episode of a show about people who survive major accidents, with filming taking place throughout Friday.
The German TV crew will then go with him to his home in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, to film him talking about the impact the Chinook crash had on him.
Keep Shetland’s news open to everyone
Your membership helps us report the stories that matter to Shetland — and keep them free for everyone to read.
Already a member? Sign in.
