More Bodies Recovered As Eight Die In Rivers Chopper Crash

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

           Faces of the victims of Chopper crash in Rivers State on Thursday.

More bodies have been recovered as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) launches aggressive search and rescue efforts for victims of crashed helicopter in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

News Rider reports that eight persons, comprising six passengers and two crew members were onboard Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

With registration 5N-BQG, the chopper, operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed one kilometre away from its destination, precisely around 11:22 am. 

The Director General of NSIB, Alex Badeh while speaking during a Channels TV show, Sunrise Daily on Friday confirmed that two more bodies have been recovered while three more are yet to be found. 

"We have recovered two more bodies, making it a total of five. There are three more down there that hopefully will be recovered today," he said. 

On the possibility of the remaining victims surviving the crash, he said: "Unfortunately this time, that is the working theory. The priority is to recover the rest of the bodies there but there is a chance that some persons onboard the aircraft might be alive.

"Human beings are resilient. As long as they have their life support devices, there is a chance we might find survivors there,"Badeh added. 

The helicopter, which was hired by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), took off from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) enroute NUIMANTAN oil rig before it disappeared. 

It was later discovered to have crashed along the waterways near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, even as three persons died instantly at the crash site. 

Badeh continued: "There was so light and moderate rain on their arrival and there was an overcast. We would look into that. That might have a chance or a role to play.

"Other than that, I can’t really say until we recover the flight recorder and speak to more witnesses there."

The Marine Division of the Rivers State Police Command had disclosed that they are collaborating with other agencies to recover the aircraft and the occupants.

Already, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the authorities to intensify their efforts in the rescue mission.

He commiserated with the families of the victims and the NNPCL over the crash.

As the rescue team battles to recover the remaining bodies, the cause of the incident remains unclear.