Three Dead in Port Harcourt Helicopter Crash Yesterday

[justseyi]

A tragic helicopter crash claimed three lives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, went down at around 11:22 a.m. near Bonny Finima, in the Atlantic Ocean waters close to Port Harcourt. The aircraft had departed from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM), bound for the FPSO NUIMS ANTAN oil rig, with a total of eight people onboard, confirmed a spokesperson from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi.

The Ministry reported that rescue operations were swiftly activated following the crash. Authorities have mobilized the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other relevant agencies, with the aid of nearby aerodromes. Although no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, efforts are underway to manually track the crash site, deploying low-flying aircraft and military assistance. Three bodies have been recovered so far, and the authorities extended condolences to the families of those onboard.

The helicopter was reportedly engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which has since released a statement, with spokesperson Olufemi Soneye assuring that they are monitoring the situation and supporting the ongoing rescue efforts. “Our prayers are with the passengers, crew, and their families during this difficult time,” Soneye expressed.

This crash is the latest in a troubling series of aviation incidents in Nigeria in recent years, raising concerns among aviation and safety experts. There have been multiple calls to strengthen standard operating procedures across civil and military aviation bodies. For instance, in December 2023, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter, the NAF MI-35P, crashed shortly after takeoff during an operation in Port Harcourt, though all five crew members fortunately survived with minor injuries. Similarly, in August 2023, a small aircraft crashed in Lagos’ Oba Akran area; the four onboard survived despite the aircraft bursting into flames.

Previous high-profile crashes include an August 2020 Quorum Aviation helicopter crash in Lagos, which left three dead, and a 2021 series of NAF jet crashes that claimed at least 20 military officers’ lives within three months. One of these incidents tragically involved the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and ten others in a crash near Kaduna Airport in May 2021.

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