Tragedy has struck Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) following the inability to recover eight persons on board helicopter it engaged, which crashed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, on Thursday.
Confirming this, NNPCL spokesperson, Oluwafemi Soneye, said the helicopter engaged by the company and operated by East Winds Aviation was heading to its floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility.
Already, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed a helicopter crash involving a Sikorsky SK76 operated by East Wind Aviation.
The accident occurred at approximately 11:22 am on Thursday along the waterways near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, while the helicopter was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig.
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The aircraft had eight people on board, though three bodies have been recovered.
Keyamo made this known in a statement on Thursday via his X account, expressing deep concern over the incident.
“The aircraft, with eight persons on board, ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified, and emergency response teams were immediately activated. Search and rescue operations are ongoing with the support of the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the National Safety Investigation Bureau, and other relevant agencies. Neighbouring aerodromes have also been notified for assistance.
“While no Emergency Locator Transmitter signal was received, manual efforts to determine the accident location are underway. All available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivors. So far, three bodies have been recovered,” Keyamo said.
Keyamo extended his condolences to the families of those on board. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on board, and we are committed to providing the necessary support during this difficult time.”
NNPCL Reacts to the tragedy
In a statement issued on Thursday, Soneye, the NNPCL Spokesperson, said NNPC said it lost contact with the helicopter around 11:22 a.m after taking off from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Port Harcourt.
“On the 24th of October 2024, about 11:22 a.m, we lost contact with the Helicopter – Register Number: 5NBQG, engaged by NNPC Limited, that took off from Port Harcourt NAF Base en route the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN. The helicopter was operated by East Winds Aviation.
“There were 8 persons on board (6 passengers and 2 crew members). The appropriate authorities have been contacted, including the Ministry of Aviation, who have since issued a press statement. Search and rescue missions are currently ongoing. So far, three (3) bodies have been recovered.
“We shall continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as the events unfold. Our prayers are with the passengers, crew and their respective families at this very difficult time,” the statement said.
