The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has announced the successful recovery of a significant part of the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, specifically the tail boom, which was involved in a tragic crash off the Atlantic coast near Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The helicopter, registered as 5N BQG and operated by Eastwind Aviation, went down near Bonny Finima on October 24, carrying eight people.
In a statement issued late Thursday by NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the agency confirmed that divers located the helicopter’s tail boom approximately 0.775 nautical miles from the FPSO Adoon at a depth of 42 meters. The precise coordinates of the find were marked at Latitude 04° 13.634′ N and Longitude 008° 19.442′ E.
NSIB’s Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh, commended the resilience and teamwork of all involved in the challenging search and recovery operation, describing the tail boom’s recovery as a “critical milestone.”
He emphasized, “Locating the wreckage is a significant step in piecing together the events that led to this tragic accident. We are resolute in our commitment to conducting a thorough investigation to provide clarity and closure to the families of those affected.”
So far, five of the eight individuals on board have been confirmed deceased, with their bodies recovered during the search efforts. The remaining search operations and recovery activities continue as part of the ongoing investigation.
Confirming the NSIB’s update, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, posted on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday evening to affirm the bureau’s findings.
