Woman killed in Norway helicopter crash

A woman was confirmed dead following a helicopter crash in western Norway on Wednesday evening, reported Xinhua, quoting local police on Thursday.

The woman, one of the six people retrieved from the sea following the crash, was sent to hospital but succumbed to her injuries, police said. Among the five survivors, three had minor injuries and two were seriously wounded -- one of them was in critical condition.

The helicopter was engaged in a search and rescue exercise on behalf of Equinor, an international energy company based in Norway.

The crash happened near the coastline of Norway's second-largest city Bergen. The helicopter was reported missing after it sent an emergency signal at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT).

Two air ambulances and a rescue helicopter were dispatched to the rescue operation.

Rescuers are still searching for the wreckage of the helicopter. Kare Halvorsen, an official in charge of air accident investigation, said the wreckage is 300 meters underwater and the weather conditions are too bad for the operation. "But work is being done to find a solution," he told national broadcaster NRK.