The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the tragic loss of eight lives after an Eastwind Aviation helicopter crashed into the Bonny River in Rivers State.
According to reports, the helicopter, carrying six passengers and two crew members, was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the FPSO Nuim Antan offshore platform near Calabar when it went down. The Rivers State Police Command reported that all on board are feared dead.
Police Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe-Koko provided additional details, noting that the incident was reported by Ifeanyi Udogwu, an employee of Antan Producing Limited.
The helicopter, identified as call sign 5N-BQG (S76C+), departed from the NAF Base in Port Harcourt around 11 a.m. before crashing near the Mimbo platform and FPSO of Antan Producing Limited.
The Rivers State Police Marine Division is coordinating with other agencies to recover the wreckage and locate all occupants.
In her statement, Iringe-Koko expressed the Command’s deep condolences to the victims’ families.
The Ministry of Aviation also confirmed the incident, with spokesperson Odutayo Oluseyi revealing that three bodies have been recovered so far. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers. Initial reports indicate that the oil workers onboard were contract staff for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
According to the ministry, the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5N-BQG, was on its way to the Nuimantan Oil Rig when it ditched near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. No Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, and manual tracking efforts were launched.
Agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, have deployed resources, with military assistance and low-flying aircraft aiding the operation.
The National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has opened an investigation into the crash.
In a statement, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at NSIB, explained that the helicopter was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and did not transmit an ELT signal, prompting a manual location search.
Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. extended condolences to the affected families and emphasized NSIB’s commitment to determining the cause of the accident, urging the public to avoid speculation as the investigation progresses.