RIVERS: Three dead in Port Harcourt helicopter crash

The incident occurred at 11:22 a.m. in the waterways of Port Harcourt when a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, took off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) en route to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.

According to Odutayo Oluseyi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, there were eight people on board.

The aircraft went down in the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, prompting authorities to initiate rescue efforts.

The ministry stated that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and nearby aerodromes have been alerted, and search and rescue operations have begun with assistance from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other relevant agencies.

“Although no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal has been detected, manual efforts are being made to determine the accident’s location. All available resources, including military support and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to aid in locating and rescuing any survivors. So far, three bodies have been recovered,” officials stated, extending condolences to the families of those on board.

Helicopter Engaged by NNPCL

The helicopter was chartered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye confirmed this in a statement.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as events develop. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, and their families during this challenging time. We assure you that we will do everything possible to support the ongoing search and rescue efforts,” Soneye stated.

Concerns over the number of helicopter crashes resulting in casualties have grown among aviation and safety experts in recent years.

Stakeholders are urging civil and military aviation authorities to enforce standard operating procedures and tighten regulations.

In December 2023, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter also crashed in Port Harcourt. The NAF MI-35P helicopter went down shortly after takeoff during an operation against economic saboteurs in the oil-rich South-South state. Fortunately, all five crew members survived with minor injuries.

Similarly, in August 2023, a small aircraft crashed in the Oba Akran area of Ikeja, Lagos State. The aircraft caught fire during the incident, but the four occupants were fortunate to survive.

In August 2020, a helicopter operated by Quorum Aviation crashed in the Opebi area of Lagos, resulting in the deaths of three individuals on board.

In 2021, at least 20 military officers lost their lives within three months due to crashes involving NAF jets.

On May 21, 2021, a tragic accident occurred when a NAF Beechcraft 350 aircraft crashed near Kaduna International Airport, killing then Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and ten others.