Norwegian regulator orders Equinor to probe health issues linked to new offshore helicopter

The Norwegian Maritime Authority, Havindustritilsynet, has formally ordered Equinor to determine the cause of a wave of health problems among passengers of its Leonardo AW189 helicopters serving the offshore platforms Snorre A, Snorre B and Visund from Florø. Since the fleet entered service in autumn 2025, Equinor has logged 127 health-and-safety incidents, with tinnitus being the most common complaint, alongside ear pain, altered hearing, sound sensitivity, headaches and nausea.

After implementing cabin-noise mitigation measures in July, the authority observed a measurable drop in noise levels, yet reports of symptoms have not ceased. Havtil argues that Equinor has largely attributed the issues to noise alone and has not sufficiently explored other possible causes. The regulator also highlighted a disparity: a higher proportion of Equinor employees, compared with contractors, have opted out of using the helicopters and report more health effects.