THE Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development confirmed three persons dead in a helicopter crash on Thursday, October 24, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The ministry confirmed this in a statement released from the office of the minister, Festus Keyamo, and signed by the head of press and public relations, Odutayo Oluseyi.
According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 11:22 a.m. along the waterways in Port Harcourt.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Nuimantan oil rig when it crashed.
Eight persons were confirmed on board the aircraft.
“The Federal Ministry of Aviation has received the distressing report of a helicopter accident that occurred today, 24th October 2024, at about 11:22 am along the waterways in Port Harcourt.
“The aircraft, with eight persons on board, ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean,” the ministry said.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has been notified and emergency response teams were immediately activated, while search and rescue operations are 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, it said, adding that the 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 ministry added.
According to the ministry, the minister of aviation, Festus Keyqmo, is working with all relevant agencies to ensure a coordinated response and to minimise casualties from the 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, Oluseyi stressed.
The ICIR reports that there has been a spate of helicopter crashes in recent times, resulting in casualties and loss of lives.
In December 2023, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter with registration number NAF MI-35P crashed in Port Harcourt shortly after it took off for an operation against economic saboteurs in the oil-rich South-South state. The entire crew of five persons survived, but with various injuries.
In August 2023, a small aircraft crashed in the Oba Akran area of Ikeja, Lagos, and burst into flames. The four persons onboard narrowly survived the incident.
The ICIR also reported series of helicopter crash incidents such as the one that occurred in August 2020, when a helicopter operated by Quorum Aviation crashed in the Opebi area of Lagos, leaving three of those onboard dead.
In another deadly crash, the late chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 personnel were onboard the NAF Beechcraft 350 aircraft in May 2021 when it crashed near the Kaduna International Airport, killing all 11 military officers.