The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed a helicopter crash involving a Sikorsky SK76 operated by East Wind Aviation.
The incident occurred around 11:22 am on Thursday along the waterways near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. The helicopter was traveling from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig when the crash took place. There were eight people on board.
Keyamo disclosed the news via a statement on his X account, expressing concern over the tragic event.
“The aircraft, carrying eight persons, went down in the waters near Bonny Finima. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been informed, and emergency response teams were immediately mobilized. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing with support from the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the National Safety Investigation Bureau, and other relevant agencies. Neighboring aerodromes have also been alerted to assist,” the minister stated.
He further noted that no Emergency Locator Transmitter signal was detected, but manual efforts to determine the crash site are underway. “All available resources, including military personnel and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to locate and rescue potential survivors. So far, three bodies have been recovered,” Keyamo added.
The minister extended his condolences to the families of those affected, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, and we remain committed to providing all necessary support during this difficult time.”