Helicopter out of fuel during exercise
AULTBEA, Scotland, March 30 (UPI) -- Members of the British Royal Air Force said a Coastguard helicopter and 50 rescue personnel were scrambled to seek a chopper than ran out of fuel in Scotland.
A Royal Air Force source told The Daily Record, Glasgow, Scotland, the Super Puma helicopter ran out of fuel during a training exercise and had to land in a remote area that did not allow for radio contact with its base.
A Coastguard helicopter and about 50 rescue workers were scrambled to search for the helicopter in Ross-Shire county after it made an emergency landing near Loch Maree in Wester Ross.
The crew was found safe and the members chose to remain with the helicopter until it could be refueled the following day.
"There are some red faces over this one. It's a cock-up, plain and simple," an RAF source said. "The helicopter was supposed to have been following a road between Applecross and Aultbea, in Ross-shire."
"They got a bit lost, which would not normally be a problem for a large military helicopter. But in this case they had only the minimum fuel," the source said. "They apparently had just 27 minutes worth for the 20-mile planned route."
AULTBEA, Scotland, March 30 (UPI) -- Members of the British Royal Air Force said a Coastguard helicopter and 50 rescue personnel were scrambled to seek a chopper than ran out of fuel in Scotland.
A Royal Air Force source told The Daily Record, Glasgow, Scotland, the Super Puma helicopter ran out of fuel during a training exercise and had to land in a remote area that did not allow for radio contact with its base.
A Coastguard helicopter and about 50 rescue workers were scrambled to search for the helicopter in Ross-Shire county after it made an emergency landing near Loch Maree in Wester Ross.
The crew was found safe and the members chose to remain with the helicopter until it could be refueled the following day.
"There are some red faces over this one. It's a cock-up, plain and simple," an RAF source said. "The helicopter was supposed to have been following a road between Applecross and Aultbea, in Ross-shire."
"They got a bit lost, which would not normally be a problem for a large military helicopter. But in this case they had only the minimum fuel," the source said. "They apparently had just 27 minutes worth for the 20-mile planned route."