Transport Committee announces new inquiry into helicopter safety
10 September 2013
New Inquiry - Helicopter safety
The Transport Committee will hold an inquiry into helicopter safety, following the crash of a Super Puma helicopter into the sea off the Shetland Islands in August, in which four people were killed, and other recent incidents involving helicopters carrying oil and gas industry personnel to and from offshore installations in the North Sea.
Commenting today, Committee Chair Louise Ellman MP said:
"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. 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 Committee will publish more detailed terms of reference later in the autumn.