Tragedy struck in Rivers State as a helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation crashed into the Bonny River, resulting in the confirmed loss of all eight individuals on board.
The incident involved a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter with the call sign 5N-BQG, which was carrying six passengers and two crew members en route to the FPSO Nuim Antan offshore platform near Calabar.
The Rivers State Police Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe-Koko, reported that the helicopter had departed from the Port Harcourt Military Base around 11 a.m. before it crashed near the Mimbo platform and FPSO of Antan Producing Limited. The incident was initially reported to the authorities by Ifeanyi Udogwu, an employee of Antan Producing Limited.
According to Iringe-Koko, the Police Marine Division is collaborating with other agencies to recover the wreckage and locate all occupants of the helicopter. She expressed the Command’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
The Ministry of Aviation also confirmed the incident. Its spokesperson, Odutayo Oluseyi, revealed that three bodies had been recovered so far, with search and rescue efforts ongoing to find the remaining passengers. Initial reports indicate that the passengers were contract staff for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
Authorities stated that no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received from the helicopter, necessitating manual efforts to track its location. Various agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, have mobilized resources, with military assistance and low-flying aircraft aiding the search operation.
The National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the crash. In a statement, the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, explained that the helicopter was flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and did not transmit an ELT signal, prompting the manual search.
Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public of a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the crash. He urged everyone to avoid speculating on the incident as the investigation progresses.
