Three die, word awaited on fate of five others as chopper crashes in Rivers StatThe Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has confirmed the death of three persons aboard a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter with registration 5NBQG.
Operated by East Wind Aviation, the chopper was on its way from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Nuimantan oil rig when the tragic incident occurred around 11:22 a.m.
According to Odutayo Oluseyi, a spokesperson for the ministry, eight people were onboard the ill-fated flight when it went down near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
An immediate activation of rescue operations began while the ministry confirmed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and nearby aerodromes had been alerted.
“Although no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, manual efforts to identify the crash site are ongoing. All available resources, including military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivors,” the ministry noted. So far, three bodies have been recovered.”
