A tragic helicopter crash has claimed the lives of three people, with five others still missing, after a Sikorsky SK76 operated by East Wind Aviation crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. The incident occurred on Thursday morning near Bonny Finima, along the waterways of Rivers State.
According to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the helicopter was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig when it crashed at around 11:22 a.m. local time. There were eight people on board at the time of the accident.
Keyamo shared details of the incident through a statement on his X account (formerly Twitter). He expressed deep concern over the crash and emphasized the ongoing efforts to locate the remaining passengers.
“The aircraft, with eight persons on board, ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified, and emergency response teams were immediately activated. Search and rescue operations are ongoing with the support of the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the National Safety Investigation Bureau, and other relevant agencies.”
Emergency responders, including the military, were immediately mobilized to search the crash site. However, no signal from the helicopter’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was received, making the search operation more difficult. Keyamo explained that manual efforts are being used to pinpoint the crash location. Low-flying aircraft and military support have been deployed to assist with the rescue efforts.
“So far, three bodies have been recovered,” Keyamo confirmed, adding that efforts continue to locate the five remaining individuals who were aboard the helicopter.
In his statement, the minister expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pledged support for those affected. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on board, and we are committed to providing the necessary support during this difficult time.”
