The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) announced on Sunday that another body has been recovered from Thursday’s helicopter crash, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to four, with four still missing ¹. The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima, Rivers State, with eight passengers and crew members on board.
Recovery Efforts
- A floating body was retrieved by the Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) at 4:00 PM on Sunday and is currently being transported to NUIMS Antan, escorted by the Cameroonian Navy.
- Two additional specialists will be deployed to the incident site on Monday to supervise and support the helicopter recovery effort.
- The NSIB is working with a joint search, rescue, and recovery team, as well as various supporting agencies, to ensure a thorough and efficient recovery process [1).
Investigation
The NSIB is investigating the cause of the crash and has confirmed that no wreckage or critical components, including the black box, Flight Data Recorder (FDR), or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), have been located due to challenging environmental conditions.
Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB, expressed gratitude for the coordinated support of national and international partners and assured that the bureau is dedicated to gathering essential information to provide clarity and closure to the families of those affected.
