…no additional bodies found -NNPC
By Ime Silas
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says no further bodies have been recovered as it continued search over the ill-fated helicopter which crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State last Thursday.
In a statement signed by Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, the company further expressed its sympathies to the families of the victims.
“The NNPC Ltd. wishes to announce that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered.
The Company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities is still ongoing.
Once again, our hearts and prayers are with family members of this unfortunate incident”, the statement dated October 27, 2024, reads.
Earlier yesterday, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had during its Press statement said critical components of the crashed helicopter had yet to be found.
In a release signed by Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji; Director – Public Affairs and Family Assistance, the NSIB named such components as black box, Flight Data Recorder (FDR), amongst others but maintained that search was ongoing.
According to the release “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”.
While shading more lights on its ongoing efforts, the bureau hinted “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 meters. 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 recognize the depth of this loss, and I assure you that all efforts are fully underway. Our priority is to recover and analyze 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, emphasizing the importance of respecting the integrity of the recovery and investigation as they progress.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency and accountability, continually working to enhance transportation safety across Nigeria”.
It could be recalled that the President of Nigeria, His Excellecncy, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, had expressed his government’s deep sympathies to the affected families, while ordering for an intensified search and rescue.