The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said that searches are still ongoing to retrieve the remaining bodies of those who were involved in the ill-fated helicopter crash that occurred last Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
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The helicopter, operated by East Winds Aviation, was en route to the FPSO-NUIMS ANTAN facility when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
The flight’s electronic manifest identified the deceased NNPCL staff as Tamunoemi Suku, Alu Lawrence, Etim Emmanuel, Kenneth Chikwem, Frank Oriamre, and Borris Ndorbo. The pilot, Captain Yakubu Dukas, and a crew member were also involved..
A statement signed by NNPCL’s chief corporate communication officer, Olufemi Soneye, said search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies, along with relevant authorities, are still ongoing.
The statement titled ‘Helicopter Crash: Search Still On-going, No Other Additional Bodies Found’, read, “The NNPC Ltd. wishes to announce that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered.
“The company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities are still ongoing.
“Once again, our hearts and prayers are with the family members of this unfortunate incident.
Meanwhile, The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says the black box, flight data recorder (FDR), or cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of a crashed helicopter are yet to be recovered.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Bimbo Oladeji, director of public affairs and family assistance at NSIB, said the search was suspended on Saturday due to “loss of daylight”.
Oladeji said the search will resume today, adding that more equipment will be deployed to enhance the operation.
“As of 11:55 AM today (Saturday), divers began setting up and checking equipment to conduct an underwater search and recovery, followed by preliminary sweeping operations at 2:15 PM,” the statement reads.
“However, by 4:30 PM, diving activities were suspended due to the loss of daylight. Recovery operations are set to resume tomorrow (Sunday) at 9:00 AM local time.
“Despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage or critical components – such as the black box, Flight Data Recorder (FDR), or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – have yet been located due to the challenging conditions of the operating environment, limited visibility at depth and human divers’ operational constraints.
“To enhance recovery efforts, the NSIB is working to deploy a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped to operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters.
“With its advanced cameras, sensors, and Tether Management System (TMS), the ROV will enable the NSIB team to conduct detailed surveys, collect environmental data, and capture critical evidence essential to understanding the cause of the incident.
“The ROV’s capacity for close inspections and light manipulation tasks will be invaluable in such deep-water environments, where it will aid in assessing wreckage conditions, gathering vital data, and developing insights into potential causes.
“The NSIB is collaborating closely with an amalgamated team of search, rescue, and recovery units comprising various government agencies and private entities.
“The Bureau urges the public to avoid speculation, emphasizing the importance of respecting the integrity of the recovery and investigation as they progress.”
NSIB added that it remains committed to transparency and accountability to enhance transportation safety across Nigeria.
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