Friday, October 25, 2024 –Three persons have been confirmed d£ad in a
helicopter crash that occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The helicopter which was on oil and gas shuttle service crashed off the
coast of the city at about 11:12 a.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
The tragic accident involved a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter with
registration 5NBQG, operated by East Wind Aviation and was en-route from Port
Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the NUIMANTAN oil rig when it
disappeared.
A statement signed by the Head Press and Public Relations at the
Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi, said the
chopper, with eight persons on board, crashed into the waters near Bonny Finima
in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Ministry said the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau had been
notified and emergency response teams were immediately activated, and search
and rescue operations were ongoing with the support of the Nigerian Search and
Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Safety
Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and other relevant agencies
Neighbouring aerodromes had also been notified for support.
“While no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received,
manual efforts to plot the location of the accident are underway, and all
available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been
deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivor(s). So far, three
bodies have been recovered," the statement read.
“The Minister of Aviation is actively working with all relevant agencies
to ensure a coordinated response and to minimize casualties from this
unfortunate incident. Further information will be provided as details emerge.
“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."
0 Comments