BP has suspended using the type of helicopter that ditched into the North Sea, as the investigation into the cause of the accident gained pace.

The UK oil giant normally uses two Super Puma helicopters from Aberdeen-based operator Bond Offshore to fly people to and from North Sea oil and gas installations. But the company said late Thursday it would suspend the use of the Super Puma "as a precaution".

The 16 passengers and two crew were being reunited with their families after a dramatic rescue operation near a BP production platform around 125 miles east of Aberdeen on Wednesday night.

In light of the accident, BP said it would use a different type of helicopter to transport workers.

A spokesman said: "It was a decision that was taken in light of the incident yesterday.

"We thought it would be prudent not to use them."

He said BP would review the use of Super Puma Bond helicopters in the next day or so.

A spokesman for Bond said that, following the ditching of the EC225 helicopter, its other two helicopters of that type were checked and remain operational.

An investigation was under way to establish what caused the accident.

The Super Puma Bond ditched around 500 metres from the BP production platform. People on the installation raised the alarm and a major rescue operation was launched.

Michael Coull, watch officer with Aberdeen Coastguard, said the aircraft landed upright and all those on board were able to escape on to life rafts.

Three people were winched to safety by a Bond rescue helicopter, while the other 15 were later recovered by a platform lifeboat and transferred to a vessel which made for Aberdeen.

Mr Coull said: "As far as we can ascertain this appears to have been a reasonably controlled ditching - there was no contact with the platform at all.

"From our point of view everything was carried out in a textbook way, if anything like this can be called textbook."

BP said that many of those rescued were contractors, including 11 from drilling company Transocean, while two were BP employees and the two crew were employed by Bond.

An operation to recover the stricken helicopter began on Thursday before it was called off because of darkness. The aircraft will be tethered to the regional support vessel Caledonian Vision and the recovery operation will resume on Friday.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch launched an investigation into what went wrong and has sent nine people to Aberdeen. A representative from France, where the helicopter was built, will also travel to the city.

Their inquiries will be supported by Grampian Police, who will also investigate what caused the helicopter to come down.

CRASH AT SEA - EXTRA

North Sea has its history of flight accidents

Interview with RAF Kinloss Squadron Leader Barry Neilson

Interview with experienced helicopter pilot Quentin Mayberry

RAF footage of nighttime scene in the North Sea