The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the tragic loss of eight lives following the crash of an Eastwind Aviation helicopter into the Bonny River in Rivers State.
According to AFRIPOST, the helicopter was transporting two crew members and six passengers from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the FPSO Nuim Antan offshore platform in Calabar when the incident occurred. The police believe that all onboard perished in the crash.
Grace Iringe-Koko, Police Public Relations Officer, stated that Ifeanyi Udogwu, an employee with Antan Producing Limited, initially reported the accident to the police.
The helicopter, identified by its registration number 5N-BQG (S76C+), took off from Port Harcourt’s NAF Base around 11 a.m. and went down near Antan Producing Limited’s FPSO and Mimbo platform. Rivers State Police Marine Division, alongside other authorities, is actively working on recovering debris and locating all individuals involved.
The police extended their deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Aviation spokesperson Odutayo Oluseyi confirmed the incident, noting that three bodies have been recovered so far. Search and rescue operations continue for the remaining passengers. Preliminary information indicates the oil personnel on board were under contract with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The government reported that the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5N-BQG, was en route to the Nuimantan Oil Rig when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima. With no signal from the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), the tracking efforts relied on manual searching.
Agencies like the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have mobilized resources, including low-flying aircraft and military support, to aid the operation.
The National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance for the NSIB, explained that the helicopter was flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) without an ELT signal, necessitating manual location efforts.
Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. offered condolences to the affected families and emphasized the NSIB’s commitment to determining the cause of the accident. He also urged the public to avoid speculation as the investigation proceeds
