At least three people have died following a helicopter crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, was confirmed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
In an official statement, the ministry’s spokesperson, Odutayo Oluseyi, shared details of the crash, stating, “The Federal Ministry of Aviation has received the distressing report of a helicopter accident that occurred today, 24th October 2024, at about 11:22 am along the waterways in Port Harcourt.”
The helicopter, identified as a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, was on a flight from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig when it crashed into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
“There were eight people on board when the aircraft went down,” the statement added. Emergency response teams, including the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, were swiftly deployed to the scene to conduct search and rescue operations. Neighbouring airports have also been alerted for additional support.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, as authorities work to recover the remaining passengers.
