Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-92 down in Atlantic - 17 missing

By John Croft

Newfoundland-based Cougar Helicopters says one survivor has been recovered after the ditching of an S-92 with 18 aboard in the Atlantic Ocean this morning after it experienced "technical problems" while ferrying workers to several offshore oil platforms.

Data from flight tracking service FlightAware.com shows that the twin-engine heavy helicopter may have turned back toward its departure airport (St. Johns) before the accident took place.

The S-92 issued a distress call regarding mechanical problems at 0918h local time to the Gander air traffic control centre, which then alerted rescue services to a location approximately 47nm east southeast of St. Johns.

An aircraft circling overhead apparently reported seeing the helicopter floating upside down, with two survivors in the water and one life raft, though later reports mentioned two life rafts. Coast guard ships, aircraft and helicopters rushed to the scene, with 2-3m waves and ocean temperatures near the freezing level.

One survivor, in critical but stable condition, was airlifted back to St. Johns in another Cougar helicopter as of 1300h local time, but numerous ambulances at the hospital awaiting other survivors were then told to stand down.

Cougar says it continues to search for the 17 other occupants in vicinity of the debris field.

The accident is the second for the S-92 and perhaps the first fatal. An S-92 carrying Rev. Sun Myung Moon crashed in South Korea in July 2008 due to severe weather conditions. None of the 16 people on board were killed.

Cougar was the Canadian launch customer for the S-92, following US-based Petroleum Helicopters.