The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed the crash of a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter near Port Harcourt on Thursday, October 24.
The aircraft, operated by East Wind Aviation, went down in the Atlantic Ocean around 11:22 am while flying from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig.
In a statement, the Federal Ministry of Aviation reported that eight people were on board the helicopter at the time of the accident. As of now, three bodies have been recovered, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Keyamo has assured that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified, and emergency response teams, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), are actively involved.
“We are using all available resources to plot the location of the accident and rescue survivors,” the ministry stated, noting the absence of a signal from the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).
To assist in the search efforts, authorities have deployed military support and low-flying aircraft. Keyamo is personally overseeing the operations to ensure effective coordination among all agencies involved.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on board, and we are committed to minimizing casualties,” he stated, reiterating the Ministry’s dedication to supporting affected families during this tragic time.