A tragic helicopter crash occurred on Thursday at 11:22 am near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Sikorsky SK76, operated by East Wind Aviation, was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig with eight people on board.
*Crash Details*
– Time of crash: 11:22 am on Thursday
– Location: Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean
– Helicopter type: Sikorsky SK76
– Operator: East Wind Aviation
– Number of people on board: Eight
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the incident and expressed deep concern. “The aircraft, with eight persons on board, ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified, and emergency response teams were immediately activated.”
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, supported by the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, National Safety Investigation Bureau, and other agencies. Neighboring aerodromes have also been notified for assistance.
Keyamo stated, “While no Emergency Locator Transmitter signal was received, manual efforts to determine the accident location are underway. All available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivors. So far, three bodies have been recovered.”
Keyamo extended his condolences to the families of those on board. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on board, and we are committed to providing the necessary support during this difficult time.”
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has commenced an investigation into the accident.
