One of the Coastguard helicopters

Coastguard helicopters which were grounded over the weekend following safety concerns are back in action.

Swift modifications carried out by the company that maintains the aircraft for the Coastguard meant they were all back in service by the end of yesterday, Sunday. The four Sikorsky S92 rescue helicopters were taken out of operation following a fatal crash involving a similar aircraft in Canada.

Concerns centred on the craft’s gearbox mounting. An engineer from CHC, the contractor which maintains the helicopters, fitted replacement parts to the craft run by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Sumburgh in Shetland and Stornoway on Lewis. The helicopters were available for service at 6pm and 9pm respectively.

A spokesman for the MCA said: “We are absolutely delighted with what CHC has done for us.”

Sea King helicopters operated by the Royal Navy and the RAF provided cover while the Coastguard craft were grounded. The MCA helicopters are often called out to mountain rescues in the North of Scotland.