The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has disclosed that the search for the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt is still ongoing.
Mr Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC Ltd., who gave the update in a statement on Sunday, October 27, 2024, announced that beyond the three bodies found , no other bodies have been recovered.
Soneye, however, noted that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities is still ongoing.
He expressed the company’s sympathies and prayers with the family members of the unfortunate incident.
Recall that the company reported that it lost contact with the Helicopter with Register Number: 5NBQG, engaged by it, that took off from Port Harcourt NAF Base en route the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN on Thursday, October 24, 2024, about 11:22am.
NNPC Ltd. said, the helicopter which was operated by East Winds Aviation took off with 8 persons on board (6 passengers and 2 crew members).
It reported that three (3) bodies were recovered in the ongoing search and rescue missions while others are yet to be found.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Nigerian military officers involved in various operations in the zone to join the rescue mission and provide all necessary support to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other relevant agencies.
Tinubu sympathised with the Board and staff of NNPC Ltd and the families of all those who were confirmed to have passed away in the accident.
He prayed that the Almighty God grant eternal rest to the three departed souls and comfort their families.
