OFFSHORE union RMT slated First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday for failing to tackle offshore drilling bosses over dangerous helicopter ditchings.

The union criticised the First Minister’s stance on health and safety as he promised “stability” for the industry’s beancounters at a conference in Aberdeen — with scant reference to a slew of fatal helicopter crashes and emergency landings.

The minister’s appearance was scheduled the same day as analysts from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch revealed that two commuter flights which ditched in the North Sea in 2012 each lost oil pressure due to a crack in the main rotor gearbox.