A combined search, recovery and rescue team is yet to locate the wreckage of a helicopter with some staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. that crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday.

Aviation minister Festus Keyamo shared a statement about the recovery effort on his X timeline on Sunday.

The statement, signed on Saturday by Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, a director of public affairs and family assistance at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, disclosed that neither the helicopter wreckage nor any of its critical components, such as the black box, flight data recorder (FDR), cockpit voice recorder (CVR) had been found.

READ MORE: JUST IN: 3 Dead, 5 Missing in Port Harcourt Helicopter ‘Accident’

The helicopter, with six passengers and two crew members aboard, was engaged by the NNPCL on Thursday. At about 11:22 am, the oil regulator lost contact with the helicopter, according to a statement by signed by Olufemi Soneye, the NNPCL chief corporate communications officer, on Thursday.

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The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) continued its recovery operation and investigation into the ditching of a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registration 5N BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, October 24, 2024, involved eight persons onboard and took place off the coast of Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.

As of 11:55 AM today, divers began setting up and checking equipment to conduct an underwater search and recovery, followed by preliminary sweeping operations at 2:15 PM. However, by 4:30 PM, diving activities were suspended due to the loss of daylight. Recovery operations are set to resume tomorrow at 9:00 AM local time.

Despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage or critical components – such as the black box, Flight Data Recorder (FDR), or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – have yet been located due to the challenging conditions of the operating environment, limited visibility at depth and human divers’ operational constraints.

To enhance recovery efforts, the NSIB is working to deploy a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped to operate at depths of up to 1,000 metres. With its advanced cameras, sensors, and Tether Management System (TMS), the ROV will enable the NSIB team to conduct detailed surveys, collect environmental data, and capture critical evidence essential to understanding the cause of the incident.

The ROV’s capacity for close inspections and light manipulation tasks will be invaluable in such deep-water environments, where it will aid in assessing wreckage conditions, gathering vital data, and developing insights into potential causes.

Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB, further expressed his sympathies to the loved ones of those affected, stating, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of the crew and passengers involved in this tragic event. We recognise the depth of this loss, and I assure you that all efforts are fully underway. Our priority is to recover and analyse all necessary data to bring clarity to the families and the nation.”

The NSIB is collaborating closely with an amalgamated team of search, rescue, and recovery units comprising various government agencies and private entities.

The Bureau urges the public to avoid speculation, emphasising the importance of respecting the integrity of the recovery and investigation as they progress.

READ ALSO: Despite Paying Tompolo’s Company N48b Yearly for Security, NNPCL Says It Can’t Handle Oil Theft

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency and accountability, continually working to enhance transportation safety across Nigeria.

EQ had earlier reported how three persons out of the eight passengers aboard were recovered dead.
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