Tragic Helicopter Crash in Port Harcourt Claims Three Lives

A helicopter crash in Port Harcourt has resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Stay tuned for updates on the incident and its aftermath.

Three individuals have been confirmed dead following a helicopter crash in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, on Thursday.

The accident happened at 11:22 a.m. along the waterways in Port Harcourt involving a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation. The helicopter had taken off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) en route to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig when it crashed.

Odutayo Oluseyi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, stated that eight people were confirmed to be on board.

According to a statement from the authorities, the aircraft made an emergency landing in the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, they stated that rescue efforts have been initiated.

The ministry announced that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and nearby aerodromes have been informed. Additionally, search and rescue efforts have begun with assistance from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other pertinent agencies.

The authorities have stated that even though no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was detected, manual efforts are currently being made to pinpoint the accident site. All available resources, including military forces and low-flying aircraft, have been mobilized to aid in locating and rescuing any survivors. Thus far, three bodies have been recovered. They also offered words of comfort to the families of those on board during this difficult time.

NNPCL Staff Onboard

The helicopter, which met an unfortunate fate, had personnel from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on board.

In a statement, Olufemi Soneye, the spokesperson for NNPCL, confirmed that the helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation had been commissioned by NNPC Limited.

We will keep a close watch on the situation and offer regular updates as events develop. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, and their families during this challenging time.

“We promise to keep doing everything we can to support the ongoing search and rescue efforts,” said Soneye.

The series of helicopter crashes resulting in casualties has been a major concern for aviation and safety experts over the past few years. Stakeholders are urging both civil and military aviation authorities to adhere to standard operating procedures and implement stricter regulations.

In December 2023, a helicopter from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) also crashed in Port Harcourt. The NAF MI-35P aircraft went down shortly after taking off for an operation targeting economic saboteurs in the oil-rich South-South region. Fortunately, all five crew members survived with only minor injuries.

In August 2023, a small aircraft crashed in the Oba Akran area of Ikeja, Lagos State’s capital. The plane caught fire upon impact; however, all four individuals on board narrowly survived the unfortunate incident.

In August 2020, a helicopter operated by Quorum Aviation crashed in the Opebi area of Lagos, resulting in the deaths of three passengers onboard.

In 2021, a minimum of 20 military officers lost their lives over the course of three months due to three separate crashes involving NAF jets.

At the time, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and ten others were aboard a NAF Beechcraft 350 aircraft that crashed on May 21, 2021, near Kaduna International Airport. Tragically, all eleven military personnel lost their lives in the accident.