Helicopter Crashes Off Angola

Four people died and two were missing after a helicopter crashed en route to a Chevron oil platform off the Angolan coast, the U.S. oil company said on Tuesday.

The helicopter left Malongo port in Angola's Cabinda province on Monday at 1523 local time to make the short journey to the Tombua-Landana offshore oil platform but never arrived.

"The helicopter did not reach its intended destination. It was carrying five passengers and one pilot," Chevron said in a statement, adding that one of the passengers was an employee while four others were contractors. Four of those on board were of Angolan origin.

"Extensive search and rescue activities continue for those who remain missing."

Chevron did not say if there was any impact on oil production from the crash or the search and rescue operation, which involved 19 marine vessels and three helicopters. 

Poor weather is thought to have been a factor in the accident.

In April this year, 13 people on board a helicopter on assignment for Statoil died en route from Gullfaks B to Bergen.

Angola competes with Nigeria to be Africa's largest oil exporter, shipping around 1.7 million barrels per day, mainly to Asian markets.