The family of a British oil worker killed in a helicopter crash in Norway say they have been left “heartbroken” by his death.
Iain Stuart from Aberdeenshire died along with 10 other passengers and two crew when the aircraft travelling from an oil field crashed off the Norwegian coast on Friday.
A statement released by “heartbroken” relatives of the 41-year-old, who worked for oilfield services company Halliburton, said he was devoted husband and father to two children.
“We as a family are devastated at the loss of Iain in Friday’s tragic helicopter crash in Norway,” the statement said.
“Iain was a loving husband and devoted father to his two children and as a family we are heartbroken. He was a caring son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
“We are appreciative of all the messages of support and kind thoughts.
“We now ask, as a family, that we are allowed some privacy at this difficult and sad time to grieve and come to terms with our loss.”
The Super Puma helicopter was flying from the North Sea Gullfaks B oil field, around 74 miles (120 kilometres) off the Norwegian coast when it crashed en route to Flesland Airport in Bergen on Friday.
All UK commercial passenger flights using the same Airbus EC225LP – or Super Puma – model have been grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) following the accident.
The aircraft shattered into pieces when it smashed into the rocky shoreline of Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city.
Norwegian television showed footage of what appeared to be a helicopter rotor blade spiralling down minutes before the helicopter crashed.
Emergency crews pulled the wrecked fuselage out of the sea on Saturday ahead of an investigation into the cause.
A team from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is assisting with the investigation.
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