Offshore chopper incident at Kirkwall Airport
(Picture: Andrew Shields)
Further details have been released on the helicopter incident on Saturday, which saw the aircraft making an emergency landing at Kirkwall Airport.
A spokesman from Kirkwall Police Station said that at 12.50pm on Saturday, emergency services attended at Kirkwall Airport after a Eurocopter EC225, operated by Bond Offshore Helicopters requested a fully emergency landing after reporting issues with its landing gear.
The aircraft had 15 passengers and 2 crew members on board. The aircraft was en-route to Aberdeen from the Foinaven field, 120 miles west of Shetland.
Once at Kirkwall Airport the aircraft managed a controlled, low-level hover and all passengers were evacuated safely.
A decision was then made to refuel and fly the aircraft to Aberdeen Airport where another full emergency landing took place. This was to allow engineers to assist with the safe landing.
The aircraft landed safely at Aberdeen around 2.20pm. Alternative arrangements were then made to fly the 15 passengers back to Aberdeen later in the day