Helicopter with 18 aboard ditches in Atlantic

Rescuers searched freezing waters for 17 missing people Thursday after the craft reported mechanical problems and ditched into the Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland, officials said.

Of the 18 aboard, one was found. The others were missing about 30 miles out to sea, officials at a news conference said.

The survival window is about 24 hours – but only if the people were wearing survival suits, said Major Denis McGuire of the Rescue Coordination Center in Halifax.

The survivor, who was flown to a hospital, was listed in critical but stable condition.

Two life rafts were spotted in the water amid the helicopter debris, but rescuers later confirmed they were empty.

“They’re still searching because they would have had their survival suits on,” said Jeri Grychowski of the Rescue Coordination Center.

The water temperature was zero.

The S-92 Sikorsky helicopter went down 55 miles southeast of St. John’s, the provincial capital.

“Mechanical problems were reported, but we don’t know the nature,” Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokeswoman Julie Leroux said.

The pilot said he would try to turn back to St. John’s, said Rick Burt of Cougar Helicopters, the helicopter’s operator.

“This is a very difficult time,” Burt said.