2002 Bristow Helicopters Sikorsky S-76A Crash - Aftermath

Aftermath

Shell suspended North Sea helicopter flights by the operator for six weeks after the accident until 3 September 2002.

The inquest into the deaths opened on 31 October at the Great Yarmouth Coroner's Court and the jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death on 2 November 2005 on the basis of an AAIB report finalised during that year.

Earlier, in late 2003, the company Bristow had agreed to a compensation deal for five children, whose fathers were killed in the crash.

The names of the deceased are engraved on a glass porch in St Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth.

In 2007, a Norwich coroner's officer launched legal action over claims he suffered stress following the tragedy, claiming compensation, stating he received insufficient support at the time of the incident and in its aftermath. A Norfolk police spokesman confirmed the traumatic nature of the 2002 incident for all those involved, the more so since it had occurred on the eve of a one-day general strike of council's workers in the UK and two days before a royal visit to Norwich.