London (dpa) - A helicopter returning from an oil platform off the coast of Scotland, carrying 16 people, ditched into the North Sea Wednesday, coastguards said.

The Royal Air Force was assisting in a large search-and rescue operation after the Bond Super Puma helicopter came down some 50 kilometres off the port city of Aberdeen, on coast of Scotland.

Helicopter operator Bond confirmed it was one of its aircraft which was involved in the incident which comes around six weeks after a Bond Super Puma with 18 people on board ditched in the North Sea in February. Everyone survived that accident. (dpa)