Three individuals have been confirmed dead following a helicopter crash that occurred on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. According to reports, the accident happened at around 11:22 a.m. over the PH’s waterways.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG, was operated by East Wind Aviation and was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Nuimantan oil rig.
Odutayo Oluseyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, confirmed that there were a total of eight people aboard the aircraft when it crashed. The helicopter reportedly crashed into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, and authorities say it has started rescue operations.
In a statement, the Ministry of Aviation confirmed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and surrounding airports had been alerted.
Despite the absence of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal, manual efforts are being made to pinpoint the crash location.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other relevant agencies are collaborating in the search and rescue efforts with all available resources, including military and low-flying aircraft, to assist in locating and rescuing survivors, with only three bodies reported to have been recovered.
The incident is the latest in a series of helicopter crashes that have raised concerns among aviation and safety experts.
In recent years, there have been repeated calls for stricter enforcement of standard operating procedures and tighter regulations within both civil and military aviation.
Recently, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter crashed in the Tami community, located in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. It was reported that the helicopter was on a routine flight when it encountered technical problems, resulting in a tragic accident.
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