The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has announced the successful recovery of a part, tail boom, of the ill-fated Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, with registration number 5N BQG, which ditched in the Atlantic Ocean in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
NSIB disclosed this in a statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji on Thursday night.
It said the helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, had eight individuals on board when it crashed near Bonny Finima, Port Harcourt on October 24.
According to NSIB’s statement, the tail boom was identified during recovery dives approximately 0.775 nautical miles from the FPSO Adoon, at a depth of 42 meters, with coordinates Latitude 04° 13.634′ N and Longitude 008° 19.442′ E.
NSIB’s Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh, lauded the teamwork and cooperation among parties involved in the search and recovery efforts.
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Badeh said: “Locating the wreckage is a critical milestone in understanding the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident.
“We are determined to conduct a thorough investigation to provide clarity and closure to the families of those affected.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that five bodies out of the eight individuals on board have been recovered.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), confirmed the recovery via his X handle on Thursday evening.
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