Keyamo, NCAA, NSIB, NAMA Hold Briefing on Rivers Helicopter Crash, 3 persons still missing, Black Box recovered,
Oru Leonard
Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that 3 persons who were among the ill-fated Sikorsky SK76 helicopter with registration No: 5N-BQG operated by Eastwind Aviation, are yet to be found.
Keyamo who announced this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday also announced that the flight recorder (black box) from the said helicopter was recovered on November 8, 2024. He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them of the ministry’s support as the search continues.
According to him, “The helicopter crashed approximately 1.4 km from its destination, NNPC’s Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel Nuim Antan. Once the crash site was located, the Nigerian Air Force transported our Go-Team to the Nuim Antan vessel on the accident day. Search and rescue efforts, involving NNPC, Nigerian Navy, NSIB, HydroDive, and NIMASA, were activated immediately. This extensive underwater operation, which required advanced technology and significant financial resources, faced challenges due to heavy rains, ocean currents and strong winds but continued around the clock for 14 days.”
He further added that the debris from the helicopter was initially spotted on Day 1, with three bodies recovered shortly afterward. However, one passenger and two crew members remain unaccounted for. “On October 31, 2024, the helicopter wreckage was located at a depth of 42 meters at specified coordinates. Although scattered, major parts and components, including the fuselage and engines, were recovered. The flight recorder was found on November 8, 2024. The wreckage has since been transported to Abuja, where the intricate process of data readout will begin,” he said.
The Aviation Minister highlighted that the ministry’s goal is to conduct a thorough investigation, assessing human, mechanical and environmental factors that may have contributed to the crash. Certified maintenance records of the helicopter and the crew’s training and medical history are under review. He noted that cooperation has been received from the operator, NCAA, NAMA, and NiMet.
“The wreckage and components will undergo a detailed examination at the wreckage hangar in Abuja. The United States, as the state of design for the helicopter, appointed an NTSB investigator, assisted by a technical advisor from Sikorsky Aircraft, while France, as the engine manufacturer, designated representatives to assist in the investigation”, Keyamo stated, adding that that a preliminary report will be published on the NSIB website within 30 days, while the final report may take up to a year to complete.
Speaking NSIB Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr. shared that the bureau, with support from the Nigerian Navy and NNPC, continues a long-term search for the missing crew members and passenger. He assured the public that the Bureau is providing emotional and psychological support to the victims’ families and will keep them updated on the investigation’s progress. One body was also recovered in Cameroon, and authorities there have been notified to assist in the ongoing search for the missing bodies.
