The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that two more bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday.
Initial reports said three had been recovered even though the police said all eight passengers and crew members were feared dead.
However, two more bodies have been recovered from the crash, leaving three still unaccounted for.
The Rivers State Police Command had announced that all eight occupants of an Eastwind Aviation helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday were feared died.
The crash occurred over the Bonny River, near Rivers State, and involved six passengers and two crew members aboard the helicopter.
However, NSIB Director General Alex Badeh stated on Friday, “We have recovered two more bodies, making it a total of five. Hopefully, the remaining three will be recovered today.”
He explained that an investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
Badeh said “unfortunately, this time, that is the working theory,” when asked about the chances that none of those on board the aircraft survived the crash.
He said, “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 said.
The helicopter, with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed one kilometre away from its destination. It was engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
It crashed around 11:22 am along the waterways in the Rivers State capital after taking off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.
The cause of the incident is unclear as of now but Badeh said “there was lightening 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,” he added.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
