The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on Thursday announced that it has begun an investigation into the accident involving a Sikorsky SK76c helicopter with registration number 5N-BQG operated by East Wind Aviation.
According to a report in Premium Times, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC Ltd) earlier announced that the helicopter lost contact while en route from Port Harcourt to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Antan oil production facility. did. The NNPC said there were eight people on board the helicopter, and the bodies of three of them were recovered.
Reacting to the incident, NSIB Public Relations Director Wunmi Oladeji said the NNPC said the helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima off the coast of Calabar with eight people on board (six passengers and two crew members). said. , during a scheduled flight at approximately 11:22 a.m. local time on Thursday.
The spokesperson said the aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers at around 10:52 a.m. while en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Angthong Marine Facility.
“The helicopter, which was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), did not transmit an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal, leading authorities to manually plot the accident location to speed up search and rescue operations. It happened.”
“The operator stated that the helicopter’s fuel endurance was 2 hours and 15 minutes.”
Search and rescue operations were immediately launched, with the NSIB working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Army and other relevant agencies, the statement said.
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It added that emergency response teams are actively working to find survivors and three bodies have been recovered so far.
“The search continues with support from nearby airfields, military units and low-flying aircraft.
NSIB Executive Director Capt. Alex Badet Jr. said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragic incident. We are working hard to clarify the circumstances surrounding this accident.” “We are working diligently to ensure that all necessary information is collected.”
The agency said the public should avoid speculation at this sensitive time as it focuses on providing clarity and accountability through the investigation.
“The NSIB is actively preparing to send a specialist team to the scene to collect evidence and conduct a comprehensive analysis. “NSIB is actively preparing to deploy a specialist team to the scene to collect evidence and conduct a comprehensive analysis.” A report will be published.
“The NSIB remains committed to promoting transparency and accountability through an independent accident investigation process and ultimately improving transport safety in Nigeria.”
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Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Petroleum) Heineken Lokpovili expressed deep sadness over the accident.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Nneaamaka Okafor, Lokpobiri expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Helicopter carrying 8 passengers crashes in Nigeria, 3 confirmed dead
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, crew, and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We share the families’ grief and pain, and our search and rescue efforts We stand in solidarity with them as this continues,” he said.
The Minister said he would continue to support NNPC Ltd in monitoring and managing the situation.
“We continue to provide support to NNPC Limited in the ongoing rescue operations,” he added.
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