First Minister Alex Salmond has described the search for survivors after a helicopter ditched in the North Sea as ``extremely bleak''.

 

Eight people have already been confirmed dead after the Bond-operated aircraft returning from the BP Miller platform went down off the Aberdeenshire coast.

 

An extensive search is under way for another eight people who are still missing.

 

At a press conference in Aberdeen, Mr Salmond said he was shocked and saddened by the incident.

``It looks like we might be might be facing the second worst helicopter support incident in history, in terms of the number of fatalities,'' he added.

 

``Eight bodies have been recovered and I am afraid to say the outlook for the other eight people involved is extremely bleak.''

 

The Super Puma aircraft went down 14 miles from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, just before 2pm.

 

The incident comes about six weeks after a Bond Super Puma with 18 people on board ditched in the North Sea as it approached a production platform owned by BP.

 

The Queen has sent a private letter of condolence to the families of the victims of the disaster.

 

The words of comfort will be conveyed by the Lord Lieutenant of the City of Aberdeen to the families of lost loved ones, according to a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman.