The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed the tragic crash of a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter operated by East Wind Aviation. The incident, which claimed three lives, occurred around 11:22 am on Thursday, off the waterways near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. The helicopter was on a flight from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig.
There were eight people on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.
In a statement released on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Keyamo expressed his deep concern over the accident and outlined the steps taken by authorities in response.
“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, with support from the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the National Safety Investigation Bureau, and other relevant agencies. Neighbouring aerodromes have also been alerted to assist,” Keyamo stated.
He further disclosed that no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal had been received, but efforts were being made manually to pinpoint the accident site. “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,” he added.
Keyamo extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, stating, “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.”
Search and rescue efforts continue as authorities work to determine the full extent of the tragedy.
