Helicopter crashes on Norway coast

EUROPE, April 29: A helicopter has crashed west of the Norwegian city of Bergen with 13 people on board.

There were reports of people in the sea, but a rescue official told broadcaster NRK that there were no signs of any survivors. The helicopter was “totally destroyed”. Photos from the scene showed thick smoke coming from an area of rocky islets.

It was flying from the Gullfaks oil field to Bergen. The western city is a centre for the North Sea oil and gas industry.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter 225, came down near the small island of Turoy, just west of the village of Solsvik.