The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says it has located the wreckage of the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter which crashed in Rivers State.
The helicopter with registration 5N BQG was found by the bureau’s allied team and partners leading the charge for the search and recovery efforts at approximately 0.775 nautical miles from the FPSO Adoon.
This was contained in a statement made available to Thelensng on Thursday by the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance of NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji.
The helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, carried eight individuals onboard and ditched in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima on October 24, 2024.
So far, five bodies have been recovered, while 3 passengers remain missing.
The statement partly read: “The wreckage was identified during last night’s (Wednesday) recovery dives, approximately 0.775 nautical miles from the FPSO Adoon.
“It was located at a depth of 42 meters, with coordinates registered at Latitude 04° 13.634′ N and Longitude 008° 19.442′ E. Efforts are currently underway for the recovery of the helicopter’s wreckage.
“The tail boom of the helicopter has already been successfully retrieved and lifted from the water today (Thursday)”.
Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of NSIB, commended the allied team and partners leading the search and recovery efforts
“Locating the wreckage is a critical milestone in our efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident.
“The dedication and cooperation shown by all involved parties have been exceptional, and we are determined to conduct a thorough investigation to provide clarity and closure to the families of those affected”, he said.
The bureau stated further that recovery efforts for the wreckage are underway, and additional updates will be provided as they become available.
The NSIB said it remains committed to working closely with national and international partners to carry out the recovery and investigative process in line with its mandate to enhance transportation safety in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is the multimodal transport agency charged with the mandate of promoting transport safety and conducting objective, thorough, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria with the aim of identifying the probable causes and advocating for safety improvements based on our findings.
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