On Friday, April 29, 2016, a CHC helicopter on assignment for Statoil crashed outside Turøy in Fjell municipality outside Bergen, Norway. 13 people, 2 pilots and 11 passengers onboard, died in the accident.
Map image courtesy: Statoil
On Saturday April 30, Statoil’s president and CEO, Eldar Sætre, and executive vice president Development & Production Norway, Arne Sigve Nylund, visited the center for next of kin in Bergen.
Statoil will continue to support those who need it most, those who are directly affected, families, colleagues onshore and on the platforms. Statoil will also assist next of kin who are not present at the centre, and colleagues on Gullfaks B. Personnel with experience from following up people in crisis are available for those who need it.
"Today, we are one family. We will stand together as one united industry, and do everything in our power to take care of the affected families," Sætre said.
The Accident Investigation Board in Norway will investigate the accident, and Statoil will contribute to this job. Statoil will also start its own investigation in cooperation with the employee representatives and the safety delegates. This investigation will be coordinated with the work of the Accident Investigation Board.
"Finding an answer to why the helicopter crashed is very important, both to the next of kin and to all who have the Norwegian continental shelf as their work place. The safety of everyone working for Statoil is the most important thing for us,” Sætre says.
The 11 passengers are employed in the following companies: Halliburton, Aker Solutions, Schlumberger, Welltec, Karsten Moholt and Statoil. The two pilots are employed by CHC. One of the 13 is a Statoil employee.