….Authorities Probe Helicopter Tragedy as NAAPE mourns
The Nigeria Aviation community is in mourning as a Sikorsky SK76c helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation today crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar.
The helicopter, with registration 5N-BQG, was carrying eight individuals six passengers and two crew members when it went down during a routine flight on at approximately 11:22 AM local time.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in a statement says, it has launched an investigation into the tragic crash of
According to Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, spokesperson for the NSIB, the aircraft was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Anton Offshore Facility. It lost contact with air traffic controllers at 10:52 AM while operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
According to the statement, no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was sent, prompting authorities to manually plot the accident’s location.
It adds that, Immediate search and rescue efforts were launched, with the NSIB coordinating closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Armed Forces, and other relevant bodies.
So far, three bodies have been recovered, and efforts to locate the remaining individuals continue.
Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB, expressed deep sympathy for the affected families and emphasized the bureau’s commitment to uncovering the circumstances behind the crash.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragic incident. We are fully committed to uncovering the circumstances surrounding this accident,” he said.
The NSIB says, it is preparing to dispatch a go-team to the crash site for evidence collection and analysis, with a preliminary report expected to be released soon.
In a separate statement, National President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Engr. Abednego Galadima expressed profound sadness over the loss of lives, particularly highlighting that the pilot, Capt. Yakubu Dukas, was a seasoned helicopter pilot with over 20 years of flying experience and served as Vice President of NAAPE.
“More saddening is that the captain on board, Capt Yakubu Dukas, is a seasoned helicopter pilot… until this unfortunate accident, he was the Vice President of our great union,” Galadima said.
NAAPE has reiterated its long-standing call for optimal operating conditions in the aviation industry to ensure the safety of professionals and passengers alike.
Galadima urged the government and stakeholders to prioritize zero-accident targets, noting that “there is no parking space up there.”
He also called for a thorough investigation to identify both the immediate and underlying causes of the crash to prevent future tragedies.
As the search and rescue operations continue, prayers and condolences have been extended to the families of all those on board.