London - Up to ten people were feared dead and six more were missing after a helicopter ditched in the North Sea off the coast of Scotland Wednesday.

The Bond Puma helicopter was returning from an oil platform in the North Sea operated by British Petroleum (BP) when it came down some 50 kilometres off the port city of Aberdeen.

Oil industry sources said they had received reports of between six and 10 fatalities, with six more missing. The Royal Air Force was assisting in a large search-and rescue operation.

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. Everyone survived that accident.