All 8 Passengers Feared Dead in Bonny Helicopter Crash, Police Report
The Eastwind Aviation helicopter that crashed into the Bonny River in Rivers State has reportedly resulted in the deaths of all eight occupants.
The helicopter, which was travelling from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the FPSO NUIM ANTAN offshore Calabar, carried six passengers and two crew members.
According to the Rivers State Police Command, all eight individuals on board are believed to have perished in the crash. Police Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe-Koko stated the incident, which occurred at around 11 a.m.
“Mr. Ifeanyi Udogwu, an employee of Antan Producing Limited in Port Harcourt, informed us that a helicopter with the call sign 5N-BQG (S76C+) from East Wing Aviation was en route to the Nuim Antan OML123 fields when it tragically ditched into the ocean near Antan Producing Limited’s Mimbo platform and FPSO. Sadly, all eight individuals aboard are feared dead,” she stated.
The Marine Division of the Rivers State Police is working with other agencies to recover the helicopter and its occupants, and the Command extended its condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development also confirmed the crash through its spokesperson, Odutayo Oluseyi. Reports indicate that the helicopter was carrying contract staff from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
So far, three bodies have been recovered from the wreckage, while search and rescue operations continue to locate the remaining passengers. The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5NBQG, ditched into waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
The National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has been alerted and emergency response teams are currently engaged in recovery efforts, supported by the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other agencies.
While no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was detected, manual efforts are underway to determine the crash site. All available resources, including military and low-flying aircraft, have been mobilized to assist in the search for any survivors.
The NSIB has initiated an investigation into the incident. Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, noted that the helicopter was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and did not transmit an ELT signal, necessitating manual plotting of the accident’s location.
Captain Alex Badeh Jr., the NSIB Director General, expressed condolences to the affected families and emphasized the bureau’s commitment to uncovering the details surrounding the accident. He urged the public to refrain from speculation during this sensitive period as they work to ensure clarity and accountability through their investigation.
