An Airbus H160 helicopter carrying eight people made an emergency landing at sea off the coast of Cabo Frio, Brazil, on Friday (1/2), prompting a rapid search and rescue operation by the Brazilian Navy. All occupants were rescued safely, underscoring the importance of offshore aviation safety and emergency response readiness.
The incident involved an OMNI Táxi Aéreo helicopter operating in support of offshore production platforms. The aircraft landed approximately 74 kilometers south of Cabo Frio, Brazil. Six passengers and two crew members were on board at the time of the emergency landing.
Following the landing, a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation was immediately activated. A Navy helicopter was dispatched to the location, where the occupants had evacuated into two life rafts. All eight individuals were recovered and transported to the clinic at the Naval Air Base of São Pedro da Aldeia. Authorities confirmed that everyone was in good condition.
Fortunately, the weather was good and the sea conditions were calm.
A colleague of mine, Bill Gazdik, died in a helicopter crash while en route to the Western Pacesetter 1 drilling rig offshore New Jersey in 1978. Another colleague, Jack Willock, was seriously injured in that incident. Jack attributed his survival to the helicopter “dunker” training he had recently completed.
Although the number of events has decreased significantly over the years, helicopter incidents are still a leading safety concern. Four died on 12/29/2022 when a helicopter crashed at the West Delta 106 A platform the Gulf.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 