Just In: 3 dead, 5 missing as helicopter crashes in Rivers
helicopter crashes
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development said the remains of three out of eight people in a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter with registration 5NBQG that crashed on the waterways en route Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Nuimantan oil rig on Thursday morning have been recovered.
The helicopter operated by East Wind Aviation crashed at 11:22 a.m. along the waterways in Port Harcourt, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi said in a statement.
According to the statement, the helicopter ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
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He said rescue efforts have been activated while the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and neighbouring aerodromes have been notified, adding that search and rescue operations have commenced with the support of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other relevant agencies.
“While no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, manual efforts to plot the location of the accident are underway, and all available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivor(s). So far, three bodies have been recovered,” the authorities said while offering words of comfort to the families of those onboard.
Details later
