Helicopter
It is no longer news that yesterday a helicopter crashed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
What is perhaps news is that ill-fated helicopter had personnel of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) onboard.
NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye, in a statement, confirmed that the helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation was engaged by NNPC Limited.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, which took off from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig crashed at 11:22 a.m. along the waterways in Port Harcourt with eight passengers on board.
The aircraft ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
The NNPC said that rescue efforts have been activated.
“We shall continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as the events unfold. Our prayers are with the passengers, crew and their respective families at this very difficult time.
“We assure that we will continue doing everything possible to support the ongoing search and rescue operation,” the NNPCL said.
A statement issued by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi, stated that the helicopter had eight persons on board 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, while search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers.
In the same vein, the police command in Rivers said that eight persons were feared dead in the helicopter crash.
The Spokesperson for the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.
Iringe-Koko stated that the helicopter, owned by East Wing Aviation, was carrying two crew members and six passengers when it crashed into the sea.
She explained that the crash occurred around 11 a.m.
“Ifeanyi Udogwu, a staff member of Antan Producing Limited, reported to the command that a helicopter, with the call sign number 5N-BQG (S76C+), departed from the Nigerian Air Force base in Port Harcourt.
“The flight was en route to the Nuim Antan OML123 oil fields, carrying two crew members and six passengers.
“Unfortunately, at around 11 a.m., the helicopter reportedly ditched into the ocean, near Antan Producing Limited’s Mimbo platform and FPSO.
“All eight persons onboard are feared dead,” Iring-Koko stated.
