Three bodies have been recovered from the helicopter that crashed at the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny/Finima in Rivers state.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) disclose this in a statement issued on Thursday.
The statement signed by NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Bimbo Oladeji, said investigation into the accident involving a Sikorsky SK76c helicopter with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation has commenced.
Mrs Oladeji said the helicopter, carrying eight individuals comprising six passengers and two crew members went down into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar.
According to her, the incident occurred during a routine flight at approximately 11:22 a.m. local time on Thursday.
“The aircraft was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Anton Offshore Facility when it lost contact with air traffic controllers around 10:52 a.m.
“Operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the helicopter did not transmit an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal, prompting authorities to manually plot the accident’s location to expedite search and rescue efforts.
“Search and rescue operations were activated immediately, with the NSIB collaborating closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Armed Forces and other relevant agencies.”
According to the director, emergency response teams are actively working to locate survivors, with three bodies recovered so far.
She said the search continued with the support from neighbouring aerodromes, military units, and low-flying aircraft.
She quoted Capt. Alex Badeh, the NSIB Director -General, as saying that the thoughts and prayers of the entire NSIB staff were with the families affected by the tragic incident.
“We are fully committed to uncovering the circumstances surrounding this accident. We will work diligently to ensure that all necessary information is collected.
“The public must avoid speculation during this sensitive time, as our focus is on providing clarity and accountability through our investigation.
“The NSIB is actively preparing to dispatch a go-team to the scene to gather evidence and conduct a comprehensive analysis.
“A preliminary report will be issued in due course to provide updates on the investigation’s progress.”
“NSIB remains dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability through the independent accident investigation process, ultimately enhancing transportation safety in Nigeria.
