The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has announced the recovery of two additional bodies from the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter wreckage that crashed near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday. Initial reports had suggested that three bodies were recovered, and the police had expressed fears that all eight passengers and crew members may have perished.
With the recent discovery, five bodies have now been accounted for, while three remain missing. The Rivers State Police Command had earlier stated that all eight occupants of the Eastwind Aviation helicopter, which went down over the Bonny River, were feared dead. The aircraft was carrying six passengers and two crew members at the time of the accident.
During a Friday appearance on Channels TV, NSIB Director General Alex Badeh confirmed the recovery of the two bodies, saying, “We have now recovered five bodies. Our hope is to find the remaining three today.” He noted that an investigation into the crashās cause is underway.
When asked about the likelihood of survivors, Badeh acknowledged, āUnfortunately, it appears unlikely, but human resilience should not be underestimated. As long as life support devices were functioning, there is a small chance of survival.ā
The helicopter, registered as 5N-BQG and operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed about one kilometer from its intended destination. It had been contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and went down around 11:22 a.m. after departing from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) en route to the FPSO-NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.
While the cause of the crash is still uncertain, Badeh mentioned that “light to moderate rain” and an “overcast” condition upon the helicopterās arrival could have contributed to the incident. āWe need to examine the flight recorder and speak to more witnesses before reaching any conclusions,ā he added.
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