EIGHT bodies were recovered this afternoon and another eight oil workers were missing after a helicopter went down in the North Sea.

Sources claimed 10 people had died in the crash but police confirmed eight bodies had been found after a helicopter crashed into the North Sea.

A major rescue operation was under way this afternoon after the helicopter hit the North Sea around 18 miles North-east of Peterhead.

It was understood the aircraft’s crew managed to raise the alarm before they hit the water.

The incident happened around 2pm and was understood to involve a Bond Offshore helicopter.

The tragedy comes only weeks after another helicopter from the same operator went into the North Sea.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “Multiple UK SAR (Search and Rescue) assets are involved.

“It appears a Bond helicopter crashed in the North Sea, 30 kilometres east of Crimond, between Fraserburgh and Peterhead.

“Two RAF rescue helicopters have been scrambled to the scene and a Nimrod aircraft has been diverted to the area.

“Aberdeen Coastguard has sent out a mayday in the area and a number of vessels in the area have responded.

“A supply vessel, the Norman Aurora, has also launched its fast rescue craft.”

Fred Caygill, from HM Coastguard, said: “We monitor the maritime search and rescue frequencies so our initial mayday came from a vessel which reported the incident.”

RNLI crews from Peterhead and Fraserburgh were also sent to the scene of the helicopter crash.

It was understood the helicopter was travelling back to Aberdeen from the BP-operated Miller oil and gas field.

No one from Bond was available to comment.

It’s the second major incident involving Bond Offshore Helicopters in less than two months.

A Super Puma helicopter went down on February 18, 125 miles east of Aberdeen.

The crew came across fog as they approached BP’s ETAP platform before the aircraft crashed.

An interim report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch showed the first rescue helicopter was on scene at 7.30pm – 55 minutes after the crash.

Three people were lifted on to the aircraft before winching was stopped.

A nearby supply vessel picked up the remaining 15 men including the pilot, Michael Tweedie. No one was seriously hurt.

An Air Accident Investigations Branch inquiry is continuing into the crash.

Today offshore union boss Jake Molloy, of the RMT, said: “Our thoughts are with the families at this time. It’s going to put a great deal of fear into the hearts of offshore workers and their families to have two incidents so soon together.

“We will be pressing the industry to release their findings as soon as possible and give assurances that travel offshore is safe.”

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