A crew of 18 on board a helicopter which crashed into the North Sea off the coast of Scotland has been rescued.
Super Pumas are used to ferry oil workers between the shore and rigs
A full scale rescue operation using four more helicopters was launched after the Super Puma aircraft went down in the sea whilst approaching an oil platform.
The two crew and 16 passengers escaped into three rubber dinghies which were equipped with beacons, pinpointing their exact location by satellite.
According to Flight Sergeant James Lyne of the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre at RAF Kinloss, those aboard would have been wearing cold water immersion suits and life jackets.
The helicopter landed upright and floated due to the emergency flotation bags which inflate during a waterborne ditch.
He said: "It was all very quick. Within a few minutes of the aircraft ditching we had rescue aircraft en route."
He added: "They all managed to get out safely. It is a very good result."
It is understood that some suffered injuries however none are life-threatening.
Grampian Police said: "An emergency telephone number will shortly be made available and relatives are asked to remain where they are. Further information will be made available in due course."
"Grampian Police are currently working with the other emergency services, search and rescue and representatives of BP and Bond to co-ordinate their safe return."
A Super Puma helicopter, similar to the one involved in the incident
A British helicopter with eighteen people on board ditched in the water while approaching an oil installation in the North Sea on Wednesday. According to Her Majesty's Coastguard, everyone on board the aircraft survived the crash, and have been picked up by two life-boats.

The helicopter, a Super Puma registered (G-REDU) to Bond Offshore Helicopters, crashed about 125 miles miles east of the Scottish city of Aberdeen. A Nimrod jet from the RAF Kinloss, a Sea King helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth, and several choppers from nearby oil platforms searched the area after the alarm was raised at 18.40 GMT. The search effort, however, was hampered by limited visibility and low clouds in the area.

Dave Webster, a squadron leader with the Royal Air Force, said that this type of accident is a very rare occurrence.

The helicopter that ditched would have been equipped with survival suits to shield the passengers from the cold waters, as well as a flotation device.