A “virtual” remembrance service will be held tomorrow to mark 11 years since a fatal helicopter crash near Peterhead.
Families and friends of those lost in the tragedy gather every year on April 1st, but cannot do so this time due to social distancing measures in place due to the coronavirus.
Instead the UK Oil and Gas Chaplaincy, run by Reverend Gordon Craig, will host an online service, starting from 9am tomorrow.
The Chaplaincy stated: “Every year on 1st of April families friends and colleagues gather to remember those lost on that day in 2009 when a Super Puma helicopter came down in the sea.
“They will be unable to gather together this year. A link to an online act of remembrance will be posted on this page on 1st April at 0900 to allow those who wish to come together ‘virtually’ to do so.”
A total of 16 men lost their lives when the Bond-operated Super Puma came down on April 1, 2009, around 12 miles from Peterhead, on its way back from the Miller field in the North Sea.
Investigators pointed to catastrophic gearbox failure as the probable cause of the accident.
The Super Puma helicopter is no longer is service in the North Sea.