13 feared dead as helicopter crashes in western Norway

A helicopter carrying 13 people crashed Friday off the western coast of Norway, Norwegian police and oil and gas company Statoil said.

The helicopter, which police said was carrying 11 passengers and a two-man crew, crashed near the island of Turoy, while travelling from "Gullfaks B", an oil platform in the North Sea, to Bergen.

Police and the Rescue Coordination center said there were no signs of survivors in the crash that left the helicopter "totally destroyed" and "parts of it on land and parts in the sea."

Witnesses said the helicopter exploded when hitting the ground.

Statoil said the helicopter was a CHC helicopter and following the incident the company has temporarily grounded all equivalent traffic helicopters.

A rescue operation led and coordinated by The Rescue Coordination center is underway.