The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has recovered 4 bodies from the investigation into “the accident involving a Sikorsky SK76c helicopter with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation.” Initially, NSIB reported that only three bodies had been recovered so far, but a later report stated “a floating body was retrieved from the water by the FRC and was escorted by the Cameroonian Navy to NUIMS Antan, for safe transit through their territorial waters.”
According to NSIB, “the helicopter, carrying eight individuals – six passengers and two crew members – went down into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar, during a routine flight on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at approximately 11:22 AM local time.”
The aircraft was “en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Anton Offshore Facility when it lost contact with air traffic controllers around 10:52 AM. Operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the helicopter did not transmit an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal, prompting authorities to manually plot the accident’s location to expedite search and rescue efforts.”
The NSIB collaborating closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Armed Forces and other relevant agencies “immediately activated search and rescue operations.”
Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB, said; “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragic incident. We are fully committed to uncovering the circumstances surrounding this accident. We will work diligently to ensure that all necessary information is collected. The public must avoid speculation during this sensitive time, as our focus is on providing clarity and accountability through our investigation.”
The NSIB is actively providing updates on the investigation’s progress.