One dead, 16 missing after Atlantic chopper crash

Rescuers were searching freezing water today for 16 people missing after a helicopter reported mechanical problems and ditched into the Atlantic Ocean.

Of the 18 on board, one person was rescued by another helicopter and one person was confirmed dead after the crash off Newfoundland, officials said.

The other 16 were missing about 30 miles (48km) out to sea, a news conference heard.

The rescued man, Robert Decker, was flown to the Health Sciences Centre in St John’s where he was said to be in a critical but stable condition.

Jeri Grychowski, of the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax, confirmed one death but it was not clear if the body had been recovered.

Two life-rafts were spotted in the water, but rescuers later confirmed they were empty.

“The two life-rafts have been checked and there is nobody in them,” said MR Grychowski. “They’re still searching because they would have had their survival suits on.”

The water temperature was zero.

Major Denis McGuire, of the rescue co-ordination centre, said the survival time if they were wearing a survival suit would be about 24 hours.

Everyone on board the helicopter would have been required to wear such a suit, which are equipped with water-activated locator beacons.

Maj McGuire confirmed that searchers had picked up signals from the survival suits, but there was no sign of the people still missing.

The S-92 Sikorsky helicopter went down 55 miles (88km) south-east of St John’s, the provincial capital.

“Mechanical problems were reported, but we don’t know the nature,” said Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokeswoman Julie Leroux.

The pilot reported technical malfunctions and said he would try to turn back to St John’s, said Rick Burt, of Cougar Helicopters, the aircraft’s operator.

“This is a very difficult time,” he said.

Winds were fairly strong in the area, with 6ft-9ft (1.8m-2.7m) waves, said Mr Grychowski.