Helicopter Crash: Nigeria Continues Search for Missing Bodies and Wreckage
By Wisdom Tide
October 26, 2024
Incident Overview
Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, announced that search efforts are ongoing to recover missing bodies and the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed on Thursday. The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76c with registration number 5N-BQG, was operated by East Wind Aviation and had been en route from Port Harcourt to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Antan oil facility when it went down. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) confirmed that three bodies of the eight individuals on board have been recovered, but the remaining bodies and helicopter wreckage have yet to be located.
Efforts to Recover Bodies and Wreckage
On Friday, Minister Keyamo provided an update through a post on his official X page, explaining that divers deployed to the crash site in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off Calabar’s coast, are still actively searching. Over 24 hours after the incident, the minister emphasized the commitment of the search teams, stating that further updates would be provided as soon as substantial progress is achieved.
He added that the Ministry of Aviation will release a more comprehensive statement once there is a breakthrough in the search efforts.
Investigation Underway by Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that it has begun an investigation into the crash. According to NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs, Wunmi Oladeji, the helicopter lost contact with air traffic controllers at approximately 10:52 a.m. local time on Thursday, shortly after it took off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM). The crash occurred at around 11:22 a.m. in the Atlantic Ocean during a routine flight to the Antan Offshore Facility.
NSIB clarified that the helicopter was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and did not transmit an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal. This lack of an ELT signal led authorities to manually locate the accident site to expedite search and rescue efforts. The helicopter reportedly had fuel endurance of two hours and fifteen minutes, according to its operator.
NNPC and Government Officials Respond
Following the incident, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited issued a statement detailing that the helicopter was en route to their FPSO Antan facility when it went down. NNPC has been cooperating with the NSIB and other aviation authorities to support ongoing recovery and investigative efforts.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, alongside the Minister for State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and various government officials, expressed profound sorrow over the accident. They extended their heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected, urging patience and respect as investigators work to uncover the cause of the tragedy.
Call for Public Patience and Avoidance of Speculation
The NSIB urged the public to avoid speculating on the cause of the crash, emphasizing its commitment to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation. The bureau’s goal is to provide clarity and accountability, ensuring that the circumstances surrounding the incident are thoroughly examined.
This tragic event has cast a spotlight on safety protocols within the nation’s aviation sector, underscoring the importance of meticulous investigation and timely response in such emergencies.
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