Abuja: The Federal Government has revealed that it has doubled its effort to recover the remaining three bodies from a helicopter crash in Rivers State.
Specifically, FG disclosed that it is reaching out to neighbouring countries for assistance in search and recovery operations.
Recall that the helicopter crashed into the ocean on Thursday, October 24, killing the eight people on board.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo confirmed that five of the eight bodies have been found.
However, he noted that one passenger and two crew members remain missing.
He went her further to explain that the helicopter’s “black box” had been recovered and currently under investigation in Abuja.
“We’re committed to finding and recovering every individual aboard that flight.
“We have reached out to neighbouring countries, especially considering one body was already discovered across our border in Cameroon”, he said.
Despite recovering the black box, Keyamo emphasized that the government’s priority remains the safe recovery of all bodies.
He expressed his condolences to the families affected and reiterated that no efforts would be spared to bring closure to the tragedy.
Also present at the briefing, the Director-General of the National Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Alex Badeh Jr., highlighted that the search has now entered a long-term phase.
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He assured families and the public that all resources would be used to recover the remaining bodies.
“Our commitment is unwavering. We are in touch with counterparts in other countries, especially given that one of the victims was recovered in Cameroon.
“Families of the victims are receiving our full support as we continue this mission,” Badeh explained.
Providing a detailed account of the ongoing operations, Badeh revealed that the helicopter crashed approximately 1.4 kilometers from its intended landing site, the NNPC Floating Production Storage Offloading vessel, known as Nuim Antan.
Immediately following the crash, the Nigerian Air Force deployed a “Go-Team” to Port Harcourt, transporting them to the crash site on a Nigerian Navy AgustaWestland (AW109) helicopter.
“From day one, we activated a robust search and rescue operation,” Badeh said. “Teams from the NNPC, Nigerian Navy, NSIB, NIMASA, Hydro Dive, and nearby vessels collaborated to assist with underwater searches.
“Over 60 personnel were mobilized, including professional divers and technical experts. They used advanced equipment to scan the seabed, and the operation continued around the clock, despite challenging weather and ocean conditions.”
The search was frequently disrupted by strong ocean currents and heavy rains, which Badeh described as “extremely challenging,” but he commended the team’s dedication.
“At midnight on October 31, we located the wreckage at a depth of 42 meters at coordinates 04° 13.634’N and 008 19.442’E.
“While parts of the helicopter were scattered, our team managed to recover significant components, including the fuselage, engines, and the critical flight recorder. The discovery of the black box on November 8 marked a significant breakthrough in our investigation”, Badeh explained.