Three persons have been confirmed dead following the crash of a helicopter in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The sad occurrence was confirmed in a statement, on Thursday, by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi.
According to the statement, the helicopter had eight persons aboard and was on a routine flight from Port Harcourt military base to an oil rig when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
The ministry confirmed that three bodies have been recovered so far from the crashed helicopter, while search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers.
“The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Winds Aviation, was en-route from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the NUIMANTAN oil rig.
“The aircraft, with eight persons on board, ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
“The National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) 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 (NCAA), the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other relevant agencies. Neighbouring aerodromes have 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,” Oluseyi stated in the statement.
Meanwhile, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is said to be working with relevant agencies to ensure a coordinated response and to “minimise casualties from the incident.”
