At least eight people died in a helicopter crash in the North Sea, off the coast of Scotland, yesterday in an incident that mirrored a similar accident less than two months ago in which four Maltese had been involved and which had no fatalities.

A Maltese government spokesman said he was not aware that any Maltese people were involved in yesterday's tragedy.

BP and the Scottish Grampian police, which were handling the case, did not have any information as to whether any Maltese people were on board the aircraft.

There were 16 people on board the ill-fated helicopter, a Bond Super Puma, that crashed at 3 p.m. while returning from one of BPs oil rigs.

Eighteen people, including four Maltese BP oil workers, survived a crash involving the same type of helicopter in the North Sea on February 18.

The helicopter that crashed yesterday was carrying 14 passengers and two crew who were all wearing survival suits, the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

The helicopter was returning from BP's Miller field when, just before 3 p.m., Aberdeen Coastguard were informed that it came down about 40 miles north east of Aberdeen, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Two helicopters from the Royal Air Force were scrambled to the scene together with a marine patrol aircraft. Aberdeen Coastguard began to broadcast a mayday signal into the area and several boats and fishing vessels also joined the search.

Two life rafts were spotted in the water but they were both overturned. The weather was dry and settled in the area with light breezes and visibility was moderate to good. The temperature of the water in the area was 8°C, according to the agency.