At least 10 people were feared to have died when a helicopter returning from an offshore oilfield crashed into the North Sea off Scotland, media reports said.

Television and local newspaper reports said bodies had been retrieved from the sea by ships sent to the scene after the helicopter with 16 people on board went down around 56 km off the coast of Crimond between Fraserburgh and Peterhead.

A coastguard spokesman told Sky News the helicopter was a supply aircraft for offshore oil rigs.

The Ministry of Defence said it was carrying civilian passengers.

Two Royal Air Force helicopters and a Nimrod marine patrol aircraft are taking part in the rescue. Coastal lifeboats have also been launched.

Oil giant BP said last month it had temporarily stopped using the Super Puma helicopters after one ditched in the North Sea while carrying 18 workers, including four Maltese, to an oil rig.

The 16 passengers and two crew on board escaped on rubber liferafts and were later rescued safely.

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