Norwegian helicopter crash 'caused by mechanical failure'
A helicopter accident in western Norway which killed 13 people last week was caused by technical failure and not human error, investigators have said.
The Accident Investigation Board said on Tuesday that its probe and visual evidence, including video of the helicopter's rotor propelling into the sea moments before it crashed, indicated sudden mechanical failure.
It did not elaborate, saying a full investigation would take time.
The victims - 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian - were aboard the Airbus EC-225 helicopter that was flying from an offshore oil rig in the North Sea when it crashed on the island of Turoey on Friday.
Police have identified the victims but have not released all the names in accordance with the wishes of some the families.
Iain Stuart, from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, was among the victims flying from the North Sea Gullfaks B oil field, about 74 miles off the Norwegian coast crashed en route to Flesland.
