Helicopter Crash: Search Still On-going, No Other Additional Bodies Found

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The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, said no additional bodies found beyond the three bodies in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In a statement by Olufemi Soneye, its Chief Communications Officer, dated October 27, 2024, the Company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities were still ongoing.

“Once again, our hearts and prayers are with family members of this unfortunate incident,” the statement stated.

Earlier, Newstide247.com reports that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said two more bodies have been recovered from the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed on Thursday, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State.

Three persons were initially confirmed dead in the crash on Thursday. Eight persons (six passengers and two crew members) were on board the aircraft when the incident happened.

However, in an update on the crash, after the crash, the NSIB said more bodies have been recovered while three more persons remained unaccounted for.

According to the NSIB, “We have recovered two more bodies, making it a total of five. There are three more down there that hopefully will be recovered today.”

The NSIB Director General, Alex Badeh, who spoke on Friday, on Channels Television’s breakfast show Sunrise Daily, said: “Unfortunately. this time, that is the working theory” that there is a chance that one of those on board the aircraft survived the crash.

He said investigators are on their way to the scene of the accident, adding it would take days for the wreckage of the aircraft to be recovered.

“The priority is to recover the rest of the bodies there” but there is a “chance” that some persons onboard the aircraft might be alive.

“Human beings are resilient. As long as they have their life support devices, there is a chance we might find survivors there,” Badeh said.

The helicopter, with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed one kilometre away from its destination. It was engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

It crashed around 11:22 am along the waterways in the Rivers State capital after taking off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.

The cause of the incident is unclear as of now but Badeh said “there was so light and moderate rain on their arrival and there was an overcast. We would look into that. That might have a chance or a role to play.

“Other than that, I can’t really say until we recover the flight recorder and speak to more witnesses there.”