The Rivers State Police Command has announced that all eight individuals on board an Eastwind Aviation helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday are feared dead.
The helicopter, which was carrying six passengers and two crew members, went down over the Bonny River near Rivers State. The flight had departed from the Port Harcourt Military Base and was headed to the offshore FPSO NUIM ANTAN facility off Calabar’s coast. The crash happened around 11 a.m., though the cause remains under investigation.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer for Rivers State, expressed the Command’s deep sorrow over the incident. “The Rivers State Police Command regrets to inform the public of a tragic incident today, resulting in the loss of all lives aboard the helicopter,” she said.
In an official statement, she elaborated: “Mr. Ifeanyi Udogwu, a staff member at Antan Producing Limited in Port Harcourt, reported that a helicopter with call sign 5N-BQG (S76C+), operated by Eastwind Aviation, left the NAF Base in Port Harcourt bound for the Nuim Antan OML123 fields, carrying two crew members and six passengers. Sadly, around 11 a.m., the helicopter reportedly went down in the ocean near the Mimbo platform and FPSO facility belonging to Antan Producing Limited. All eight people on board are feared dead.”
The Marine Division of the Rivers State Police Command is currently working with other agencies to recover the aircraft and those on board. The Rivers State Police Command extended its sympathies to the victims’ families during this tragic time.
On Thursday, SaharaReporters confirmed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited reported the helicopter crash en route to its floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) facility. NNPC spokesperson Oluwafemi Soneye stated that the helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, lost contact shortly after taking off from the Port Harcourt NAF Base.
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development earlier confirmed three fatalities. NNPC later clarified that a total of eight people were on board—six passengers and two crew members.
“On October 24, 2024, at approximately 11:22 a.m., we lost contact with Helicopter Register Number 5NBQG, which was operated by Eastwind Aviation for NNPC Limited. The helicopter departed from Port Harcourt NAF Base en route to the FPSO NUIMS ANTAN. There were eight people on board, including six passengers and two crew members,” the statement read.
Authorities, including the Ministry of Aviation, were alerted, and search and rescue operations commenced. So far, three bodies have been recovered.
NNPC reassured the public that it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates. “We shall continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as events unfold. Our prayers are with the passengers, crew, and their families during this difficult time,” the company added.
The national oil company also pledged its ongoing support for the search and rescue operations.
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