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Minister confirms crash of NNPC chartered Helicopter en-route production facility

. 3 bodies recovered by Rescue Team

. Flight operated by Capt Yakubu Dukas,

By Stanley Onyeka, Lagos and Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed the crash of a helicopter chartered by the NNPC Limited en route to a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN) site.  

Only three bodies were so far recovered as at the time of this report.

The helicopter, which took off from the Port Harcourt NAF Base in Rivers State, is a Sikorsky SK76 with Register Number: 5NBQG, and operated by East Winds Aviation.

Confirming the incident in a statement on his X handle, Mr Keyamo said the accident occurred at approximately 11:22 am on Thursday along the waterways near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.

Expressing deep concern over the incident, he said: “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. Neighbouring aerodromes have also been notified for assistance.

“While no Emergency Locator Transmitter signal was received, manual efforts to determine the accident location are underway.

“All available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivors. So far, three bodies have been recovered.”

The aircraft, with eight persons on board, ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.

Mr. Keyamo’s statement aligns with a similar one from the NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, in which he said the Company “lost contact with the Helicopter about 11:22am

According to him, “There were 8 persons on board (six passengers and two crew members).”

Noting that “The appropriate authorities have been contacted, including the Ministry of Aviation, who have since issued a press statement,” he also confirmed that  

“Search and rescue missions are currently ongoing. So far, three bodies have been recovered.”

He added: “We shall continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as the events unfold.”

Pilot has 20 years’ experience

Meanwhile, the identity of the pilot of the ill-fated helicopter has been identified as Capt. Yakubu Dukas, with more than 20 years flying experience.

A statement issued by the President, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Abednego Galadima, disclosed that the Pilot was also the Vice President of the association.

The statement reads: “We have received with great sadness the news of the helicopter crash offshore today 24th October, 2024.

“More saddening is that the captain on board, Capt. Yakubu Dukas, is a seasoned helicopter pilot with more than 20 years flying experience and until this unfortunate accident, was the Vice President of our great union.

“We have always maintained that the operating conditions in the aviation industry must always be optimal for all professionals for the safety of all knowing that there is no parking space up there.”

“We call on the government and all stakeholders to always ensure that in all their operations, they target zero for accidents because of the catastrophic nature of air crashes.

“We also call on all relevant agencies to ensure no stone is left unturned in unearthing the immediate and remote causes of this tragic occurrence and all the measures required to be put in place to forestall any further occurrence.”

All the parties expressed deep prayers with all the families of the deceased.

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