A tragic helicopter crash off the coast of Rivers State has claimed the lives of at least three individuals, with several others feared dead.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday morning, has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s oil industry.
The helicopter, carrying six oil workers and two crew members, plunged into the Atlantic Ocean near the Mimbo platform and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.
The crash happened at approximately 11:40 a.m., and search and rescue operations are still underway.
Oil Workers Perish in Devastating Helicopter Crash
The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76, was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig.
It was operated by Eastwind Aviation, a company responsible for transporting oil workers to various offshore platforms.
Reports suggest that the workers onboard were conducting operations at the OML 123 oil field before the helicopter nosedived into the ocean.
The crash has thrown the oil and gas industry into mourning, with widespread grief and shock over the loss of lives.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been made public, but officials have confirmed that three bodies have been recovered so far.
The fate of the remaining passengers remains uncertain, as efforts to find any survivors continue.
Search and Rescue Operations in Full Swing
The Nigerian Ministry of Aviation confirmed the tragic incident and has mobilized all available resources to assist in the search and rescue mission.
The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims while assuring Nigerians that every possible effort was being made to locate any survivors.
“The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified, and emergency response teams were immediately activated,” the ministry’s statement read.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing with the support of the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and other relevant agencies.”
In his remarks, Keyamo also acknowledged the challenge posed by the absence of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal from the helicopter.
Without the ELT, which typically aids in locating crashed aircraft, the rescue teams are relying on manual plotting of the crash site and other tracking methods to pinpoint the location of the wreckage.
The Nigerian military, as well as low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in the search, and neighbouring aerodromes have been placed on high alert to provide additional support.
A History of Aviation Accidents in Nigeria
Aviation accidents involving helicopters in Nigeria’s oil sector have been a cause for concern in recent years.
The country’s challenging terrain, coupled with difficult weather conditions, has contributed to several fatal accidents in the past.
This latest crash adds to the growing list of tragedies in Nigeria’s aviation industry, particularly among those providing transportation services to the oil and gas sector.
In December 2021, a similar helicopter accident claimed the lives of four people when their aircraft went down in the waters near Warri, Delta State.
In response to such incidents, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has continuously emphasized the need for strict adherence to safety protocols and regular maintenance checks for helicopters operating in these high-risk environments.
Minister Keyamo’s Commitment to Safety
Minister Festus Keyamo, SAN, has reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s airspace remains safe for all.
Following the crash, Keyamo assured the public that the aviation sector would continue to prioritize safety standards.
In his statement, he said, “The Ministry is working closely with all relevant agencies to investigate the cause of the crash. We are determined to ensure that such incidents are prevented in the future.”
He also stressed that every available resource was being deployed to recover the remaining passengers and crew members.
The Minister added, “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.”
