Helicopter death crash inquest adjourned

An inquest into the deaths of six men in a helicopter crash has been opened and adjourned.

The bodies of the two crew and four passengers were recovered in Morecambe Bay after the aircraft pitched into the Irish Sea as it collected gas rig workers.

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Post-mortem results showed the men died of multiple injuries that were consistent with being in a helicopter accident.

The victims were pilots Stephen Potton, 51, from Blackpool, and Simon Foddering, 33, from Preston, and passengers Robert Warburton, 60, of Heysham, Lancashire, Leslie Ahmed, 48, from South Shields, John Shaw, 51, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, and Alfred Neasham, 57, from Co Durham.

In a brief hearing, Blackpool and Fylde Coroner Anne Hind opened and adjourned the inquest.

The search for a seventh man, Keith Smith, 57, from Stockton-on-Tees, has been hampered by high winds and may not resume until at least Thursday.

Superintendent Kevin Toole, of Lancashire Police, said: "In the coming days when the weather improves a survey vessel and rescue boat will resume the search for the missing passenger and debris, especially the flight recorder box."

The investigation into the December 27 crash has been taken over by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Police and the the helicopter's owners, Aberdeen-based CHC Helicopter Corporation, have refused to comment on speculation that mechanical failure was to blame.

It is understood that no mayday call was received. Gas workers who witnessed the tragedy said the helicopter did not appear to clip a rig.