Three individuals tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state. The incident has raised concerns and garnered attention from both local authorities and the aviation community.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi, provided details about the crash in a statement released on Thursday. His remarks highlighted the seriousness of the situation and the ongoing efforts to address it.
According to the statement, the helicopter was on a routine flight, transporting personnel from the Port Harcourt military base to an oil rig. Unfortunately, it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean during its journey, leading to a swift response from emergency services.
The helicopter, identified as a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG, was carrying a total of eight people at the time of the incident. The ministry confirmed that three bodies have been recovered, while search and rescue operations are still in progress to find the remaining passengers.
The crash site is located near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. In response to the accident, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been alerted, and emergency response teams were quickly mobilized to assist in the rescue efforts.
Search and rescue operations are being conducted with the support of various agencies, including the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). Neighboring aerodromes have also been notified to provide additional support.
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Despite the ongoing efforts, no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal has been detected from the helicopter. Manual attempts to determine the accident’s location are currently underway, utilizing all available resources.
Military and low-flying aircraft have been deployed to aid in locating and rescuing any potential survivors. As of now, three bodies have been recovered, but the search continues as authorities remain hopeful for any additional survivors.
